/'■■ 


A 


STATISTICAL ACCOUNT 


OP THE 


WEST INDIA ISLANDS, 


TOGETHER WITH 


GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS 


OF THE 


BERMUDAS, BAY ISLANDS, AND BELIZE, 


AND THE 


GUAYANA COLONIES. 


BY RICHARD S. FISHER, M.D., 


AUTHOR OP THE " PllOGUESS OP THE UNITED STATES," THE " BOOK OF THE WORLD," ETC. 


Kllustcateti 63) a Weip itita ^utl)entic Mn$, 


NEW YORK: 


J. H. COLTON AND COMPANY, 


No. 172 WILLIAM STEEET. 


* 1855. 








Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S55, by 

J. H. COLTON AND COMPANY, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of 

New York. 






DATIE3 AND BOBBRTS, STBEEOTTPEBS, 

201 William Street, N. Y. 



PTJDNEY AND KUSSELL, PRINTEK8, 

79 John Street, N. Y. 



/. 



^6. 



CONTENTS. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST INDIES : 

Geography — Geology — Climate — Botany — Zoology — Aborigines and present Population — Era 
of Prosperity— Industrial Pursuits— Political Arrangement, etc Page 7-16 

!, XTO DOMINGO : 

Geography— Geology— Climate— Products — History. Empire of Eayti—AgncnUare — Com- 
merce — Population — Government — Faustin I. and his Court — Churches and Schools — Port- 
au-Prince— Cape Haytien — Eecent History, etc. T/ie DominiGan Republic — Provinces and 
■^opulation-Industry— Exports and Imports— Government — Finances — Armed Force— Ed- 
ucation, etc.— Santo Domingo City— Porto Plata— Eecent History 16-25 

\ SP \NISH ISLANDS : 

l/«&«— Geography and Geology— Climate and Products— Extent, Population, etc.— Jurisdic- 
tions— Adjacent Islands (note)— Productive Industry, Agriculture, and Cattle Breeding- 
Manufactures — Commerce— Railroads— Government— Public Finances — Armed Forces — Ed- 
ucation, Eeligion — Habana—Matanzas— Puerto Principe— Santiago, etc.— History, Porto 
iSico— Geography, etc.— Departments, Population, etc.— Resources, Industry, etc. — Govern- 
ment—Towns—Historical Account, etc 25-35 

BRITISH ISLANDS : 

Extent and General Statistics— the Bahama Islands- Turk's Island — Jamaica— the Caymans 
—Trinidad— Tobago— Grenada— St. Vincent— St. Lucia— Barbadoes— Dominica— Montserrat 
— Antigua— St. Christopher— Barbuda— Anguilla— Virgin Islands, etc 35-45 

FRENCH ISLANDS : 

Guadaloupe (^o-yerwrne^i^— Gnadaloupe— Marie-Galante— Desirade— Les Saintes — St. Mar- 
tin. Martinique Gccernment, etc 45-48 

DUTCH ISLANDS : 

General Statistics— Cura^oa-Bonaire-Aruba-Saba— St. Eustatius— St. Martin, etc. . 49-51 

DANISH ISLANDS : 

Extent and Population.— St. Thomas— Santa Cruz— St. John, etc 51-53 

SWEDISH ISLAND : 

St. Bartholomew = 54 

GENERAL STATISTICS OF THE WEST INDIES 54 



iv CONTENTS 



BERMUDA OR SOMERS' ISLANDS : 

Geography — Climate, Soil, and Products— Parishes— Area and Population — Industry— Gov- 
ernment, Education, etc. — Public Works — Towns — History 55-58 

BELIZE OR BRITISH HONDURAS : 

General Description — Climate, Soil, Products, etc. — Population and Industry — Government 
— Belize — History, etc 58-61 

BAY ISLANDS : 

Eoatan, Bonaca, TJtilla, Barbarat, Helena, and Morat — History, etc 61-64 

GUAYANA COLONIES : 

General Description. JBritish Guayana — Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice. Dutch Ouay- 
ona— Surinam. French Quay ana — Cayenne — Industry, Population, Government, History, 
etc 65-68 



INDEX TO PLACES 



Page 

Abaco Island 36 

AguadUla 83 

Ambergris Key 59 

Andros Island 36 

Anegada Island 44 

Anguilla Island 35, 44 

Anguillita Island 44 

Anatto 37 

Anse-Gralet 46 

Antigua Island 35, 43 

Antonio 37 

Arecibo 33 

Artibonite Elver 17 

Aruba Island 49, 50 

Aves or Bird Islands . . 50 

Azua 22-24 

Azuey Lake 17 

Bahama Islands 35, 36 

Bahia Honda 27 

Bani 24 

Bara9oa 27, 32 

Barbadoes Island 35, 41 

Barbuda Island 35, 44 

Basse-Terre 44, 45 

Batavia 67 

Bay Islands 61 

Bayaguana 24 

Bayamo 27,32 

Bejucal 27,32 

Belize 58-61 

Berbice 65, 66 

Bermuda Islands 55-58 

Bieque Island 85 

Bimini Islands 36 

Black Eiver 37 

Bonaca Island 62 

Boya 24 

Bridgetown 42 

Oabes-Terres ......... 45 

CaboEoxo 84 

Caguas 33 

Caicos Islands ........ 86 

Calliagua 40 

Camanas Island 44 



Page 

Cape Hay tien 21 

Cape Tiburon 16 

Cardenas 27 

Caroni Eiver 38 

Castries 41 

Cat Island 36 

Cayenne Island 68 

Caymans Island 35, 37 

Caymanbrac 37 

Cayo Cocos 27 

Cayo Guajaba 27 

Cayo Eomano 27 

Cayo Sal 36 

Charlestown 44 

Charlotte-Amalia. . 51 

Charlotte-Town 42 

Chris tiansborg 53 

Christianstadt 53 

Cibao Mountains 16 

Cienfuegos 26, 31 

Crooked Island 36 

Cuba 25 

Culebra 35 

Cura^oa 49 

Curagoa Chica 50 

Demerara 65, 66 

Desirade or Deseada 

Island 46 

Deux Mamelles 45 

Dog Island 44 

Dominica Island 35-42 

Dominican Eepublic .. 22 

Egmont Harbor 40 

Eleuthera Island 86 

English Harbor 43 

Enriquillo Lake 17 

Essequibo 65, 66 

Exuma Islands 36 

Fredenburg 67 

Georgetown .... 38, 39, 40, 66 

Gonaives 21 

Goyaves Eiver 46 



Page 

Grandbourg 46 

Grand Bahama Island 36 

Grande-Terre 45 

Grenada Island 35, 39 

Grenadines 39 

Green Cayo 36 

Greenville Bay 40 

Greater Antilles 7 

Gros Montague 45 

Guadaloupe Island. ... 45 

Guana 44 

Guanabacoa 27 

Giiantanamo 27 

Guayamo 33-34 

Guayana 65 

Guayana, Brazilian, ... 65 

Guayana, British 66, 67 

Guayana, Dutch 67 

Guayana, French 68 

Guayana, Venezuelan 65 

Guayanilla 34 

Giiines 27,32 

Gustavia 54 

Habana 27-31 

Hamilton 57 

Harbor Island 36 

Hay ti, Empire of. 19 

Helene Island 61 

Heneague Island 36 

Higuey 24 

Holguin 27,32 

Humacao 33 

Inagua Islands 36 

IsladePinos 26 

Jamaica Island 35, 86 

Jaruco 27,32 

Jews' Town 67 

Jiguani 27 

Jos Van Dyke's Island 44 

Kingston 87 

Kingstown 40 

Laborie 41 



INDEX TO PLACES. 



Page 

La Carenage 54 

Lamentin Eiver. 46 

Lesser Antilles 7 

Les Carmes 46 

Les Saintes Islands ... 46 

Lezarde Eiver 46 

Long Island 86 

Luc ay OS Islands 7 

Magdenburg 67 

Mahault Bay 46 

Manati 34 

Manzanillo 27, 32 

Marie-Galante 45, 46 

Mariel 27 

Martinique Island 48 

Matanzas 27, 32 

Mayagues 33 

Monte Christi 16 

Monte Plata 24 

Mont Pel6e 43 

Montserrat Island 35, 42 

Morat 61 

Morne Diablotin 42 

Moule 46 

Mount Hillaby 41 

Mount Misery 43 

Nassau 86 

Nevis 85, 44 

New Amsterdam 66, 67 

New Providence 36 

Neybo 24 

Nichar 44 

Nisao River 17 

Nuevitas 27, 32 

Oistin's Eiver 42 

Orange Town 68 

Oropuche 88 

Ortoire 88 

Oyapok 68 

Ozama Eiver 17 

Paramaribo 67 

Patillas 84 

Penniston Island 44 

Penualas 34 



Page 

Pidgeon Island 41 

Pinar del Eio 27 

Pinos, Isla de 27 

Piton de Bouillante ... 45 

Plymouth 43 

Point-a-Pitre 46 

Ponce 83 

Port-au-Prince 20 

Port Maria 37 

Port Morant 37 

Porto Plata 24 

Porto Eico Island 33 

Porto Eico City 34 

Portsmouth 42 

Port Souflfriere 41 

Princestown 40 

Pj ince Eupert's Bay. . . 42 

Puerto d'Espana 89 

Puerto Principe 27, 33 

Punta Grande 61 

Eagged Islands 36 

Eemedios 27, 32 

Eoatan Island 62 

Eosario 27, 32 

Eoseau 42 

Eum Cayo 36 

Saba Island 49, 50 

Saguerilla 84 

Sagua 27 

St. Anne 46 

St. Bartholomew Island 54 

Saintes, Les 45, 46 

St. Christopher Island. 85, 43 

St. Eastatius 49, 50 

St. George's 57 

St. Georgetown 40 

St. German 83 

St. James' 42 

St. John Island 51, 53 

, St. John 43 

St. Louis 46 

St. Luc^g, Island 35, 41 

St. Martin Island. 45, 47, 49, 51 

St. Pierre 48 

St. Thomas Island 51 

St. Yincent Island 35, 40 



Page 

Salinas 34 

Samana 16 

San Antonio 27, 82 

San Cristobal 24, 27 

San Juan de Maguana. 24 

San Nicolas 21 

San Salvador Island ... 86 
Santa Anna Harbor ... 49 
Santa Cruz Island .... 51, 52 
Santa Cruz del Seybo . 22, 24 

Santiago 22, 24 

Santiago de Cuba 27, 32 

Santo Domingo Island. 16 
Santo Domingo City.. . 22, 23 

Santo Espiritu 27, 82 

Savanna la Mar 87 

Scarboro' 39 

Seybo 24 

Sh eckerly Mountain ... 43 

Sierra del Cobre 26 

Sinnamary 68 

Souflriere 45 

Spanish Islands 25 

Spanish Town 37 

Speight's Town 42 

Surinam 65, 67 

Tobago Island 35, 39 

Tortola Island 44, 45 

Tortuga Island 16 

Trinidad Island 35, 38 

Trinidad de Cuba 27, 32 

Tunas 27 

Turk's Island 35 

Utilla Island 61 

VegaEeal...., 16 

Vieux-Fort 41 

Villa-Clara 27,82 

Virgin Gorda Island. . . 44 
Virgin Islands 85, 44 

Watling Island 36 

"Wilhelmsburg 67 

Wilhelmstadt 49 

Yacki Eiver 17 



THE WEST INDIES. 



The West Indies consist of an archipelago of numerous large and small 
islands, lying in the wide interval of sea between the south coast of 
North America and the north coast of South America. Their rich and 
varied products, the high state of their cultivation, and the very singu- 
lar forms of society existing in them, have rendered them in modern 
times peculiarly interesting. 

Astronomical and Geographical Position. — These islands extend in a 
species of curved line, first east and then south, beginning near the south- 
ern part of the United States and terminating at the north-east corner of 
the Spanish Main, near the mouth of the Orinoco River. On the east 
and north they are bounded by the Atlantic Ocean ; on the south by the 
Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the wide expanse of the Mexican 
Gulf, which in that direction interposes between them and the continent. 
They are situated between the fifty-ninth and eighty-fifth degrees of lon- 
gitude west from Greenwich, and between the parallels of ten and 
twenty-eight of north latitude. 

General Description. — Geographers have distinguished these islands 
into three arbitrary groups, viz., the Lucayos or Bahama Islands, the 
Greater Antilles, and the Lesser Antilles or Caribbean Islands. 

The Lucayos or Bahama Islands consist of fourteen principal and an 
infinite number of smaller islands and cayos, extending in line ofi" the 
coast of Florida to the island of San Domingo or Hayti, a distance of 
about 750 miles. These are chiefly of coral formation — low, flat, and 
scantily covered with soil, and most of them uninhabited. Their climate 
is mild and agreeable, free alike from the scorching heats of the tropics 
and the low grades of temperature incident to more northern regions. 

The Greater Antilles, extending from the Gulf of Mexico eastward 
toward the Atlantic Ocean, consist of the large .and fine islands of Cuba, 
Santo Domingo or Hayti, Porto Rico, and Jamaica, the position of which 
is farther west than either the Bahama or the Caribbean Islands. 

The Lesser Antilles or Caribbean Islands, so called from the Caribs 
or people inhabiting them when first discovered by the Spaniards, form 
a long chain extending in a curved, line from Porto Rico to the Gulf of 



THE WEST INDIES 



Paria. These are usually called the Windward Islands. A smaller 
and more scattered group, ranging along the coast of Venezuela, belong- 
ing also to this section, is contradistinguished as the Leeward Islands, 
English writers, however, generally apply the latter name to the more 
northerly part of the first group, extending from Dominica northward to 
the Virgin Islands, restricting the appellation of Windward Islands to 
those between Dominica and the island of Trinidad. 

Mountains of considerable elevation diversify most of these islands, 
causing them to resemble the elevated remains of a portion of the conti- 
nent which some convulsion of nature has overwhelmed. Generally 
speaking, their interior is composed of a range or group sometimes of 
little more than a single mountain, the slopes of which and the plain at 
the base constitute the island. The most elevated peaks of the Greater 
Antilles exceed 8,000 feet above the sea-level, while the higher summits 
in the Caribbean Islands range in elevation from 3,000 to 4,000 feet. 
Most of these eminences have evidently been the seat of volcanic action, 
but, with the exception of the Souffriere of Guadaloupe, which still ex- 
hibits some perturbations, action seems to have ceased in all, or at least 
is now dormant if not altogether expended. Numerous streams descend 
from these heights which, though they do not attain to the magnitude of 
rivers, yet serve to irrigate the fine plains and valleys which they trav- 
erse, and form one main cause of the fertility by which distinguished. 
Geology, etc. — The Bahama Islands, as far as known, are composed of 
limestone rock, which in many places display magnificent caves. In Cuba 
the lower regions are composed of secondary formations, through which 
the rocks of the primary era rise in masses of greater or lesser extent. 
The Copper Mountains seem to be chiefly formed of mica slate, but in 
the hills toward the west, pure limestone and argillaceous sandstone are 
the predominating developments. The Blue Mountain range of Jamaica 
is composed of transition rocks, as graywacke, associated with trap rocks. 
Resting on these, at a lower and lower level, are red sandstone and con- 
glomerate, white marl and limestone, in some places intermingled with 
traps and porphyries. The flat count. y on the south coast of the island 
is alluvial and diluvial. An extinct volcano exists at Black Hill. 

The Caribbean Islands, geognostically considered, form two groups : 
an eastern or exterior, of Neptunian formation, and a western or interior, 
of volcanic formation. The volcanic islands appear to stand in immedi- 
ate connection with the primitive ranges of Caracas. This range of 
volcanic islands extends onward in a curved direction, and terminates in 
a new primitive chain at that point where the range has again assumed 



THE WEST INDIES. 9 

the same direction as the Silla of Caracas. The Blue Mountains of 
Jamaica, the granite mountains in the southern part of Hayti and in 
Porto Rico, run parallel with the Silla, and they, as appears on inspect- 
ing the map, are equally a continuation of the volcanic series of the 
smaller Antilles, as these are of the Silla. None of these volcanoes are 
very lofty, the highest scarcely attaining an elevation of 6,000 feet above 
the level of the sea. The volcanic islands are Grenada, St, Vincent, St, 
Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Montserrat, Nevis, St, Christopher, and 
St. Eustatia. The Neptunian islands, which are low and principally 
composed of limestone, are Tobago, Barbadoes, Marie-Galante, Grande- 
Terre, Deseada, Antigua, Barbuda, St, Bartholomew, and St, Martin's. 
The only island of this group of which a detailed account has been pub- 
lished is Antigua, It contains besides the characteristic Neptunian 
rocks, also formations of volcanic origin, and hence may be considered 
as the connecting link between the Neptunian and volcanic islands 
respectively. The whole north-eastern part of the island is composed 
of a yellowish-white earthy, nearly friable, limestone, which in its upper 
strata contains helices and bulimas, but in the lower great abundance of 
cerithise, principally inclosed in a silicious bed of a dark color, which is 
subordinate to the limestone. It appears to belong to the tertiary era, 
and forms hills from 300 to 400 feet in height. The island is crossed 
from north-west to south-east by a conglomerate which, in a clayey 
basis, contains many crystals of felspar, abundance of green earth, prob- 
ably disintegrated augite, and masses of basalt, also of amygdaloidal 
dolerite or greenstone, lava, hornstone, with impressions of corals and 
numerous pieces of petrified wood, principally palms and other tropical 
trees. Trees of the same kind also occur in the silicious beds in the 
limestone. The rocks of this conglomerate are generally steep toward 
the south-west, and gently inclined toward the north-east. The lime- 
stone evidently rests on this conglomerate. To this follows in the south- 
western part of the island a doleritic basalt, which forms the greatest 
heights. The separation of these rocks is accurately in the direction of 
the volcanic islands, that is, from north-west to south-east. Hence the 
island of Barbuda, which is farther rernoved from the volcanic range, 
lies entirely in the limestone region. The shells in the limestone differ 
but little from those of the surrounding sea ; but the limestone expands 
over the whole island, which, although it is 18 miles long and 13^ miles 
wide, is nowhere higher than 110 feet above the level. A basaltic cover* 
separates this limestone from the volcanoes ; and probably these latter, 
before reaching the surface, have previously forced their way through 



10 THE WEST INDIES. 



the basalt. It occurs again in Tobago. Barbadoes, in its general com- 
position, is very much allied to Antigua, and the same would appear to 
be the case with St. Bartholomew and St. Martin's. In Deseada, Marie- 
Galante, and Grande-Terre, limestone only appears. This limestone 
extends to the north and east sides of Martinique. 

Trinidad has once formed a portion of the adjoining continent. The 
great northern range of mountains that runs from east to west, and is 
connected with the high land of Pa,ria on the continent by the islands of 
the Bocas, consists of gneiss, of mica slate containing large masses of 
quartz, and in many places approaches in nature of talc slate, and of 
bluish limestone traversed by veins of calc spar. From the foot of the 
mountains, for many leagues to the northward, there extends a low and 
perfectly flat land, evidently formed by the debris of the mountains and 
by the copious tribute of the waters of the Orinoco deposited by the influ- 
ence of the currents. The famous asphaltum or pitch lake, situated 
amid a clayey soil, is about three miles in circumference, and in the wet 
season is sufficiently solid to bear any weight, but in hot weather is often 
in a state approaching fluidity. The asphaltum appears to be supplied 
by springs. At the south-west extremity of the island, between Point 
Icacos and Rio Erin, are small cones resembling those of the volcanoes 
of air and mud at Turbaco, in New Grenada, which are of the same 
nature with those of Macalulia and the Lake Naftia in Sicily. 
Climate, etc. — The West Indies, except the more northerly of the Bahama 
Islands, lie within the tropics, and are consequently subject to great 
heats ; yet even in the warm season the influence of the surrounding 
ocean, the periodically recurring sea-breezes, and the height of land in 
the interior of the islands tend, to modify the climatic intensity peculiar 
to their geographical position. In the interior of the large islands, in 
which elevation is most marked, a mild and delightful temperature is 
enjoyed throughout the year, and several of the smaller islands possess 
the same advantages. The lowlands, however, in all these islands are 
exceedingly unhealthy, and endemic influences render them peculiarly 
hostile to the European constitution. At the elevation of 1,200 feet the 
aspect of the climate is different, nor is it liable to the propagation and 
prevalence of those fevers and fluxes which prove so destructive to life 
in the^ow and swampy flats below. In the more northerly of the islands 
even ice is sometimes formed, but snow has never been known to fall. 
'The year, as in most tropical countries, may be divided into two seasons • 
— the wet and the dry, though there is sufficient to mark the four sea- 
sons of more temperate climates. The spring may be said to commence 



THE WEST INDIES. 11 

in April, when the fields put forth their verdant appearance. From May 
to October the tropical summer reigns in all its intensity. The sea- 
breeze, however, which sets in at noon, greatly moderates the tempera- 
ture. The mean height of the thermometer at this season is 80° Fahr. 
The nights are beautiful, and are tempered by the land-breeze, which 
blows gently off the shore from about 10 o'clock until daybreak. With 
October commence the autumnal rains, when the waters pour down in 
torrents. These continue until December, between which and April 
serene and pleasant weafher prevails. The trade winds blow from an 
easterly direction from December to June. August is the season of hur- 
ricanes, which frequently devastate whole islands. These rarely, how- 
ever, occur in Cuba, and are almost unknown in Trinidad. 
Botany, etc. — The splendor and rich variety of the vegetation of the West 
Indies is the theme of every traveler, and give to the islands an import- 
ant position in an industrial point of view. To their valuable native 
plants, art and industry have added others not less valuable. So fine 
are the climate and soil, that tropical plants from all parts of the world 
are readily cultivated. All the beauties which nature has lavished on 
the equinoctial world are here displayed in their fairest and most majes- 
tic forms. On every side innumerable palms of various genera, the 
cocoa-nut, date, cabbage palm, etc., whose leaves curl like plumes, shoot 
up majestically their bare and even columns ; and high above the rocky 
summit of the hills the tree ferns appear, while convolvuli and other 
creepers have climbed their high stems and suspended their painted gar- 
lands. Scarcely can the beholder of such scenery define what most 
excites his admiration, the individual beauty or the contrast of forms, 

" or that eternal spring 

Which here enamels everything," 

and calls forth a luxuriance of vegetable life. The ground is overloaded 
with plants which have scarcely room for their development. The trunks 
of the older trees are everywhere covered with a thick drapery of ferns, 
mosses, and orchid plants, which diffuse into the air the richest odors, 
and almost conceal from sight the noble stems that uphold them. Vari- 
ous plants .of humble growth, and which love humidity, display their 
beautiful verdure on the edges of the streams, and are sheltered by the 
wide-spreading arms of the mango, the mahogany tree, the teak, mimo- 
sas, and other woods remarkable for their stateliness, and clothed in 
the wild and magnificent pomp so characteristic of the tropics. Here 
and there, as if for contrast, huge masses of trap, blackened by the 
action of the. atmosphere and decayed tremellae, present themselves — 



12 THE WEST INDIES. 

those blocks which in colder climates would be doomed to eternal bar- 
renness, or at most would only nourish the pale and sickly lichen, here 
give support to creeping plants of every form, which cover with yellow, 
green, and crimson the sides of the sable rock. In their crevices the 
succulent species are daily renewed and prepare a soil for larger ten- 
ants ; from their summits the "old man's beard" and similar plants, 
which seem to draw their nourishment from the air, hang pendent, float- 
ing like tattered drapery at the pleasure of the winds. And here rises 
the wild fig-tree, one of the gigantic productions of the torrid zone. The 
huge limbs of this tree, covered with perpetual verdure, throw down 
often from a height of 80 or 90 feet a colony of suckers of every possible 
size, from that of pack-thread to the vast cable of a ship, withoift any 
visible increase in their diameter and without a joint. These, reaching 
the ground, become other trees, but still remain united — a happy symbol 
of the strength which proceeds of union. At other times the suckers, 
blown about by the winds, are entangled about some neighboring trunk 
or rock, which they surround with a network of the firmest texture, as 
if the hand of man had been employed. Here may also be seen the 
precious nutmeg, exposing in the centre of its bursting drupe the seed 
surrounded by the crimson mace; the cassia, w^ith its pendent pods; 
the magnificent lagerstroemia, displaying one extended sheet of lovely 
blossoms : the cannon-ball tree, with its sweet and painted flowers, scat- 
tering its fetid fruit so much resembling the fatal shell that it might be 
supposed that a company of artillery had bivouacked in its shade; the 
calabash, with its large, green pericarp ; the screw pine, with its fruit 
carved in rude and curious workmanship, with numerous others in infi- 
nite variety. Various fruits transplanted from the islands of Asia and 
other distant lands or the Antilles are mingled together, and attract by 
their gaudy flowers the humming-bird to their covert. The bread-fruit 
of the Friendly Islands, and the jack of India, bearing ponderous fruit of 
60 or 70 pounds in weight, are here ; and here, too, is the vanilla, with its 
long suckers ; the black pepper of Asia ; the passiflora and the solandra, 
mingling their blossoms, while the agave throws up its princely column 
of fructification from a host of spears. Innumerable cacti and euphor- 
bioB, covered with fruit and flowers, give variety to the scene. At every 
step plants remarkable for their beauty or fragrance ornament the path. 
By the side of the rivulets rise large clusters of the bamboo. Nothing 
can exceed the beauty of this arborescent grass, which rises to the height 
of 60 or 80 feet, waving its light and graceful foliage at every breath of 
the wind. The sago and several kindred plants, so valuable for their 



THE WEST INDIES. 13 



nutritious fecula, are scattered about. The arrow-root, the papaw, the 
cashew, the banana, the plantain, and a thousand other rare, valuable, 
or ornamental trees, shrubs, and plants, with a great variety of medicinal 
roots and herbs — such betoken the wealth of vegetation in these islands. 
Zoology, etc. — The zoological productions of the West Indies have been 
but little attended to. Botanists of nearly every nation have visited and 
explored the principal islands that the conservatories of the great might 
be decked with blooming exotics ; but as regards zoology, a full century 
has elapsed without any addition being made to the antiquated history 
of Sir Hans Sloane on the animal productions of these islands. Of the 
native quadrupeds, many have no doubt been exterminated by civiliza- 
tion; and although we have no good data to base the surmise upon, it 
may be supposed that cavies, armadilloes, and other smaller quadrupeds, 
still exist in the woody and less cultivated districts of the interior. The 
agouti, although once common, is now only met with in the less culti- 
vated islands. Some wild boars are still found ; otherwise the quadru- 
peds are represented only by monkeys and the vermin species. The bird 
tribes belong to the same families and in numerous instances to the same 
species as those of the neighboring parts of the continent, and, indeed, 
most of the North American summer birds pass their winters in these 
regions. The mocking-bird of the United States visits Cuba and Ja- 
maica, and the Brazilian motmot inhabits as far north as the Bahama 
Islands. Trinidad, however, appears to be the chief island for birds ', 
the ruby-topaz, the ruff-necked and the emerald-crested humming-birds 
are particvrlarly splendid ; the crimson-throated maize-bird, the Mexi- 
can hang-nest, and the red-headed tanagar are also found in this island. 
Turkey-vultures of large size and entirely black are not uncommon. 
Wading and swimming birds have the same general character as those 
of the adjacent mainland. Pelicans, herons, flamingoes, and other well- 
known birds haunt the salt marshes, while the jacana and Martinico 
gallinule are common in fresh-water swamps. Serpents and reptiles of 
infinite variety are exceedingly prolific. The guana lizard, sometimes 
five feet long, and the green turtle, so prized by epicures, both form 
articles of food, and by some the lizard is thought to be as great a deli- 
cacy as the turtle. The marine fionehiferous animals are few, and when 
compared with those of the Indian Archipelago sink into insignificance. 
The largest are the horned helmet and the strombus gigas, the shells of 
which are much esteemed for mantel-piece ornaments. Those inhabit- 
ing the land, on the contrary, are much more numerous than in Asia. 
Jamaica, in particula^r, produces a great variety. It is a general remark 



14 ■ THE WEST INDIES. 

that insects are much less numerous on islands than upon continents, 
and the West Indies fully confirms this fact, The islands, however, are 
by no means destitute of these interesting animals. The mosquito, bugs 
of various kinds, cockroaches, centipedes, ants, chigoes, etc., are as 
abundant as the convenience and comfort of the inhabitants could well 
require. The chigo is a dangerous animal, and frequently, by burrow- 
ing under the skin, produces inflammation, and frequently mortification. 

Aborigines, Present Inhabitants, etc. — The original inhabitants of 
these islands have long been extinct, except a small remnant which still 
exists on the islands of St. Vincent and Trinidad. When discovered, a 
dense population covered these prolific regions, but the barbarities of the 
Europeans in a short space of time destroyed these unhappy people, Sup- 
plying their places with the no less unhappy African. Cuba and the 
other large islands were found in possession of the Arrowauks, a peace- 
ful and timid race that soon submitted to the invader. The inhabitants 
of the Lesser Antilles, on the contrary, were the warlike and vigorous 
Caribs, who resisted the sway of the Europeans to the last. The pres- 
ent population is composed of Europeans and their descendants, the 
Creoles ; of the African races, and of mixed races sprung from an indef- 
inite amalgamation of all races. These last are of every variety of color 
and complexion, and are variously classed as mulattoes, quadroons, etc., 
according to the preponderance of caste. There is still another class, 
lately introduced into the British islands under' the name of coolies^ who 
originate in the mountains of Asia, and are imported as free laborers, 

J under stringent regulations. These are introduced to supply the places 
of the recently emancipated slave population, which, it is said, has be- 
come totally debased, and a burden upon the colonists, their former 
^masters. The black races, however, form the most numerous class in 
all the islands, and on an average about three-fourths of the whole pop- 
ulation. This class is now free in all the British islands, slavery having 
been abolished some twenty years ago ; it has also been abolished or 
greatly modified in the Dutch and French islands ; but in Cuba and Porto 
Rico the slaves yet form about two-thirds of the negro population. In St. 
Domingo the condition of the races is anomalous, and though the people 
are nominally free and independent, the most arbitrary and extravagant 
exactions and impositions render their condition far more deplorable than 
it could have been under the worst forms of slavery ; ruin and barbarism 
are engulfing the prosperity and energies of all classes, and already it 
has become a prey to military despotism. 

Era of Prosperity. — An uncommon measure of prosperity and wealth 



THE WEST INDIES. 15 

was for a long period enjoyed by these islands. During the last century . 
they supplied almost exclusively sugar, coffee, and other articles, the 
use of which had become general over the civilized world. After the 
French revolution and that of San Domingo, the islands belonging to 
Great Britain became ajmost the sole quarter whence Europe was fur- 
nished with West India produce. Since the peace of Europe many things 
have tended to reverse the prosperity of the "West India Islands, and not 
least among these is the depression which usually follows over-produc- 
tion, and the competition which has sprung up in both North and South 
America and other parts of the globe. In the British islands the change | 
of social relations and the policy pursued by the mother country have I 
no doubt been powerful agencies in depression. England had for a long ' 
period stimulated production by bounties and protection, and ijnder this 
system the islands had attained an enviable prosperity. The withdrawal 
of this protection was necessarily their death-blow, but the sacrifice was 
necessary to the general welfare of the empire, and its continuance 
would have been fraught with much commercial disaster. The pros- 
perity of the West Indies must now depend on the energies of the peoplel 
themselves and their ability to compete with other producing countries, 
and especially with those employing slave-labor. 
Industrial Pursuits, etc. — The industry of the West Indies is confined 
to agriculture and commerce. Manufactures, from the peculiar state of 
( society in these islands scarcely exist, even in the humblest form for 
domestic use. Hence commerce is carried on to a much greater extent 
than in any other country of the same wealth and population. Almost 
every product of West Indian labor is destined for foreign markets, or 
those of the mother country, from which in return those islands receive 
all their clothing and a great portion of their daily food, besides all their 
machinery and even the ordinary manufactures required for household 
purposes. The staples of production are coffee, sugar, molasses, rum, 
spices, etc. Besides the commerce carried on with Europe, an extensive 
connection is maintained with the United States and British America. 
Political Arrangement.— The several islands are either independent or 
colonies of European nations, and are politically distributed as follows : 

Independent. — San Domingo, occupied by the Empire of Hayti and the 
Republic of Dominica. 

Spanish Colonies. — Cuba, Porto Rico, etc. 

British Colonies. — Jamaica, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Barbuda, 
St. Christopher's, Antigua, Monserrat, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent,. 
Barbadoes, Grenada, Tobago, Trinidad, etc. 



16 THE WEST INDIES — SANTO DOMINGO. 

French Colonies. — Guadaloupe and Martinique, with dependencies. 

Dutch Colonies.— Cur&coa. and dependencies. 

Danish Colonies. — Santa Cruz, St. John's, and St. Thomas. 

Swedish Colony. — St. Bartholomew's. 

These states and colonies are further and severally considered. 



SANTO DOMINGO. 

Santo Domingo or Hayti is one of the richest and most beautiful of the 
West India Islands, and after Cuba the largest. It is situate between 
latitudes 17° 36^ and 19° 59^ north, and longitudes 68° 20^ and 74° 28^ 
west from Greenwich ; and in i,ts greatest extent is a*bout 396 miles long, 
and in its broadest part 163 miles wide. Area, including the islands 
Tortuga, Gonaive, etc., 27,690 square miles. 

General Description. — The island is very irregular in outline^ being 
deeply indented by bays and inlets, and having corresponding projec- 
tions. The most conspicuous of these are — the Bay of Gonaive, in the 
west, formed between two extensive peninsulas, and that of Samana, in 
the east, between the peninsula of the same name and the main island. 
The main is intersected east and west by three mountain chains, all 
mutually connected by offsets ; a,nd between these are extensive valleys, 
plains, and savannahs. The principal central chain, which contains the 
culminating peaks — of which Cibao, 7,200 feet high, is the loftiest — 
commences at Cape San Nicolas, in the north-west, takes an east-south- 
east direction, and terminates at Cape Engario, the eastern extremity of 
. the island. Nearly parallel with this chain another, commencing near 
Monte Christi, nearly skirts the north coast till it terminates abruptly 
on approaching the so-called peninsula of Samana; and is succeeded by 
low, marshy grounds, interlaced by estuaries and channels, which sep- 
erate Samana from the main. The heights, however, reappear on the 
opposite side of the low grounds and terminate in Cape Samana. The 
third or south mountain range commences at Cape Tiburon, the south- 
west end of the island, extends eastward along the southern peninsula, 
and terminates at the river Neiva, about 80 miles west of the city of Santo 
Domingo. The most extensive plains are — those of La Vega Real, 
between the north and central ranges, and watered by the Yacki and 
Yuma • the llanos or flats, east of the Neiva and south of the mountains 
to the coast ; and the plains of Artibonite in the west. 

All the streams of any importance originate in the central mountains, 
and, as may be inferred from the general direction of these, have either 



THE WEST INDIES — SANTO DOMINGO. 17 

an east or west or south course — no stream of consequence flowing north. 
The principal are — the Artibonite, flowing west, and the Monte Christi 
or North Yacki, north-west ; the Yuma, flowing south-east, and the 
Neiva or South Yacki, the Nisao, and the Ozama, flowing south. They 
are all encumbered at their mouths with sand-bars, and hence few of 
them are navigable even for short distances. The Ozama, however, 
admits vessels drawing 12 feet of water. In the sonth-west there are 
several considerable lakes, viz., the salt lakes of Enriquillo and Azuey 
— the former, in the valley of the Neiva, about 20 miles long by 8 miles 
broad, and the latter about 10 by 6 miles ; and south of these the fresh- 
water lake of Icotea or Limon, about the size of Lake Azuey. 

Little is known of the geological structure of the island, but a lime- 
stone containing vestiges of marine shells is the prevailing formation. 
Mineral springs exist in several parts — the most noted in the eastern 
part of the island are those of Banica, Biahama, Yaya, and Pargatal ; 
and in the west the chalybeate of St. Rose, the saline of Jean Rabel, and 
the alkaline sulphur waters of Dalmarie. The mineral products are 
various and rich, and include gold, platina, silver, quicksilver, copper, 
iron, tin, sulphur, manganese, antimony, rock-salt, bitumen, jasper, mar- 
ble, opal, lazulite, chalcedony, etc. The gold mines of the Cibao 
Mountains, which in the sixteenth century were very productive, have 
been abandoned, and at the present day gold is obtained only from the 
washings in the northern rivers. None of the mines, indeed, are suc- 
cessfully worked, and hence these sources of wealth are reserved for the 
industry of future generations. 

Santo Domingo, as a whole, is one of the healthiest of the West India 
Islands, and this may more especially be said of its northern coast-region 
and the more elevated localities of the interior. The Vega Real is famed 
for its salubrity. Hurricanes occur seldomer than in the Caribbean 
Islands; nor are earthquakes frequent, although on several occasions 
they have done extensive damage. The most notable on record are 
those which occurred in 1564, 1684, 1691, 1751, 1770, and 1842; by 
that of 1751 Port-au-Prince was destroyed, and about 60 miles of coast 
submerged, and by that of 1842 towns were overwhelmed and thousands 
of lives lost. Nowhere is tropical vegetation seen to greater advantage. 
Majestic pines, mahogany trees, fustic, satin-wood, and lignum-vitse 
clothe the mountains, and furnish the principal exports of the southern 
provinces. The roble or oak, the wax-palm, divi-divi, numerous fine 
cabinet woods, and the richest flowering plants abound; and the usual 
tropical vegetables — plantains, bananas, yams, batatas; and fruits — 



18 THE WEST INDIES — SANTO DOMINGO. 

oranges, pine- apples, cherimoyas, sapodillas, with melons and grapes 
yield a plentiful return. The staple cultivated products are — coffee, 
sugar, indigo, cotton, tobacco, and cocoa. The western section of the 
island has always been the best cultivated. The native quadrupeds are 
small — the largest not bigger than a rabbit • but the animals introduced 
from Europe, and now in a wild state, have thriven prodigiously — large 
ULimbers of cattle", pigs, and dogs now roaming freely in the savannahs 
and in the mountain forests. Birds are neither numerous in specie nor 
remarkable in appearance ; still great numbers of pigeons are annually 
taken and consumed as food, and ducks in large quantities and other 
swimmers and waders frequent the marshy places. The lakes and rivers 
contain caymans and alligators, and in the neighboring seas whales 
are common in the spring season ; and green and hawksbill turtles, lob- 
sters, and crabs abound on the coasts. 
Historical Sketch. — This island was discovered by Columbus in 1492, 
and here, at Isabella, on the north shore of the island, the discoverer 
founded the first Spanish colony in the New World. The colonists having 
at an early period exterminated the aboriginal tribes, now initiated the 
introduction of African slaves. After the conquest of Peru, many of 
the settlers emigrated to South America, and the remainder, fearing the 
escape of their slaves, withdrew to the interior. In 1630 the French, 
who had been driven from St. Christopher's, settled in the western part 
of the island, which the Spaniards had deserted, and there finding 
abunda'Tce of cattle and hogs, drove a thriving trade in skins and smoked 
flesh. Ultimately the island of Tortuga and part of the mainland were 
claimed by the French settlers for their king, and by treaty with Spain, 
1777, the west part of the island was guaranteed to France. From this 
period to 1789 the new colony rapidly expanded, and in the latter year 
was in its most flourishing state. In the meanwhile the Spanish colony, 
now confined to the eastern portion, rapidly declined. In 1790 the pop- 
ulation of French Hayti was estimated at 540,000, and consisted of three 
classes — Europeans : negroes, nearly all slaves ] and people of color, the 
offspring of the two former races. Many of the latter were free-born, or 
had obtained their liberty, and likewise had enjoyed a liberal education, 
but nevertheless were excluded from political privileges. On the out- 
break of the French revolution a contest ensued between the colored 
people and the whites — the former claiming political equality. A petty, 
but sanguinary war ensued, until the slave population, also rising, join- 
ed the colored people and completely subdued the whites. The whole 
island, including the Spanish portion, which had been ceded to the 



THE WEST INDIES — SANTO DOMINGO. ^^ 

French in 1794, ultimately fell under the power of the negro chief, 
Toussaint L'Ouverture, the first president of the Haytian Republic. 
He was afterward betrayed into the hands of the French, who had dis- 
patched an army to Hayti, with a view of regaining the position they 
had lost in the island; but after some partial successes they were 
permanently expelled, and in 1801 the colony was declared independ- 
ent, and its Spanish name of Santo Domingo replaced by its indig- 
enous one of Hayti, meaning the mountainous country. In 1808 the 
eastern portion was restored to Spain, through the instrumentality of 
England. Contentions for power succeeded among the various leaders 
of the young republic, the darkest atrocities were committed and much 
blood shed — limited, however, chiefly to the French portion of the island. 
In 1821 the Spanish portion declared itself independent, and assumed 
the name of Spanish Hayti ; but it was soon subjected by Boyer, the 
president of French Hayti, and the whole island was again brought under 
one government. In 1842 a revolution broke out and Boyer was com- 
pelled to flee; and in 1844 the inhabitants of the Spanish portion rose, 
overpowered the Haytians, and formed themselves into a republic under 
the name of Santo Domingo. 

THE EMPIRE OF HAYTI. 
Hayti occupies the west end of the island already described, and corre- 
sponds in territory with the portion formerly belonging to the French, 
including the islands of Tortuga, Gonaive, etc. The east boundary, 
toward the Dominican Republic, is formed by an irregular line drawn 
north and south from the river Anses-a-Pitre or Pedernales, on the south 
coast, about long. 71° 50^ west, to the mouth of the river Massacre, 
which flows into the Bay of Manzanilla, about 10 miles south-west from 
Cape Haytien. The area is about 10,081 square miles. 

The country, as signified in its name, and as seen by the preceding 
account of the island, is mountainous, interspersed with rich, fertile 
plains and valleys, is well watered, and yields spontaneously many val- 
uable products, and among these may be especially mentioned fine tim- 
ber of various kinds, dye-woods, and drugs. Agriculture, however, on 
which it must greatly depend for prosperity, is conducted indifferently, 
and prosecuted without vigor. The cultivated staples are coffee, sugar, 
tobacco, etc., and in a minor degree cocoa, indigo, cotton, etc. No man- 
ufactures beyond the handicrafts immediately required in every popula- 
tion are engaged in ; and even in the products of agriculture the amounts 
annually brought to market have vastly diminished since the expulsion 



20 THE WEST INDIES — SANTO DOMINGO. 

of the French — the exportation of sugar having entirely ceased, and that 
of coffee has become comparatively limited. The exports of the princi- 
pal products of the colony the last year of French dominion v^-ere — clayed 
sugars, 47,516,531 pounds, and muscovado sugar, 93,573,300 pounds; 
coffee, 76,835,219 pounds, and cotton, 7,004,274 pounds. In 1851 the 
amount of coffee exported was only 43,000,000 pounds, and of cotton 
1,200,000 pounds. The remaining exports w^ere made up of logwood, 
mahogany, tobacco, cigars, ginger, beeswax, etc., and with these the 
value of exported articles amounted to not more than five million dollars. 
The imports comprise British manufactures of all kinds ] French wines, 
liquors, silks, etc. ; German linen fabrics, woolens, bagging, wines, and 
mineral waters, and American lumber, staves, naval-stores, provisions, 
etc., in all valued at less than three million dollars. 

The Empire is divided into six departments, subdivided into arrondis- 
sements and communes : and the population, chiefly negroes, is estimated 
at 572,000. By the constitution of 1843 the sovereign power was rec- 
ognized to be in the people ; the executive was placed in the hands of a 
president ; the legislative in a chamber of commons and a senate — the 
former consisting of one or more representatives from each commune 
elected for three years, and the latter of six for each department elected 
for four years, and termed collectively the national assembly ; and the 
judicial power was placed in a high court of cassation, being the highest 
tribunal of appeals, with various subsidiary and initiatory courts. The 
laws are based on the code civil of France. The whole patronage, civil 
and military, being in the hands of the president, Soulouque the then 
incumbent dispensed it in such a manner as to enable him in 1849 to 
have his title of president changed into that of emperor, and to have the 
constitution altered to suit the circumstances; and shortly after he sur- 
rounded himself by a court o^ princes of the blood, dukes, counts, barons, 
and two orders of knighthood — that of St. Faustin and a legion of honor. 
The emperor himself took the style of Faustin I. The force of the Hay- 
tian army is stated at 28,000 or 30,000 men, but of these about one-half 
only are considered effective. The people profess the Roman Catholic 
religion, but others are tolerated. Church affairs are superintended by 
a vicar- general. In every parish a school on the Lancasterian system is 
maintained, or at least should be. In 1854 there were in the state 62 
such schools and 4 colleges, and in these about 9,000 or 10,000 pupils. 

The principal towns in the Empire are Port-au-Prince, Cape Haytien, 
Gonaives, Jacmel, Cayes, etc. Port-au-Prince (or Port Republicain) is 
the capital and principal sea-port. It is situate at the head of the Bay 



THE WEST INDIES — SANTO DOMINGO. 21 

of Gonaives, and in lat. 18° 35^ north, and long. 72° 18^ west. Popula- 
tion 10.000. The principal edifices are — the palace, which has some 
architectural excellence, and the churches, arsenal, mint, lyceum, mili- 
tary hospital, etc. The vicinity is marshy and climate unhealthy. 
Most of the foreign trade centres here. Gonaives^ 65 miles north-north- 
west of Port-au-Prince, and on the north-east extremity of the bay of the 
same name, has an excellent harbor, but is not much frequented. Pop- 
ulation 4,000. Cape Haytien is the principal port on the north side of 
the island, and was on several occasions the capital. Population from 
8,000 to 9,000. St. Nicolas is situate at the extremity of a deep bay, 
formed by the cape of the same name and the mainland. The principal 
ports in the south lie on the south shore of the south-western peninsula. 
Of these, Jacmel, 28 miles south-west from Port-au-Prince, is the best, 
and has 6,000 inhabitants ; and then in line are found Bainet, St. Louis, 
Cayes, and Tiburon, the last situate at the extreme south-west point of 
the island. The ports of Goave, Jeremie, and Bon are located on the 
north side of the peninsula, facing on the Bay of Gonaives. 
Recent History. — At the commencement of 1800 the blacks of Hayti 
found themselves powerful enough to contend for the possession of the 
whole island; and on the 1st July, 1801, its independence was declared. 
Previous to this, in 1794, the Spanish portion in the east had been ceded 
to France, and hence in this declaration the independence of the whole 
was assumed. Subsequently the French government attempted to re- 
possess itself of the colony, and for this purpose an expedition of 20,000 
men under Le Clerc was dispatched, and landed at Samana. In Feb., 

1802, the campaign was begun, and fought with various success until 1st 
May, when a truce was concluded. During the continuance of this. 
Toussaint, the Haytian chief, was surprised and conveyed to France, 
and there died in April, 1803. Hostilities were immediately renewed. 
The command of the black troops devolved on Dessalines, who prose- 
cuted the war with vigor and success. The yellow fever also aided the 
cause of the negroes, Le Clerc dying, was succeeded by Rochambeau. 
An armistice was again concluded by the latter, during which the blacks 
received large reinforcements, while the French were blocked up by 
English ships. At the expiration of the armistice the French, now re- 
duced to a handful, were driven into the Cape, where, on the 30th Nov., 

1803, they were forced to capitulate to the English squadron. On the 
1st Jan., 1804, the Haytians formally reasserted their independence, and 
Dessalines, who had conducted the war to its close, was appointed gov- 
ernor for life. Afterward he assumed the title of Jaques I., emperor of 



•22 THE WEST INDIES — SANTO DOMINGO. 

Hayti; but his reign was troublous and brief, and terminated in a mili- 
tary conspiracy in October, 1806. Hayti was now divided among several 
chieftains, the principal of which were Christophe, in the north-west, 
and Petion, in the south-west. In 1807 Christophe was appointed chief 
magistrate for life, and in 1811 changed the title to that of king, calling 
himself Henry I., and the office was made hereditary in his family. 
Petion continued to act as president of the south-west until May, 1818, 
when he died, universally lamented. Christophe, on the other hand, 
was killed in a revolt in October, 1820; and having ruled as a despot, 
his memory was as universally execrated. All the governments of the 
west were now reunited under Boyer, the successor of Petion. From 
1808 the eastern portion of the island had been repossessed by Spain, 
and maintained under that government. On the 30th November, 1821, 
however, the inhabitants revolted and declared their independence. 
Soon after its territory was added to the western government. This 
union lasted until the downfall of Boyer, when it was dissolved, and the 
Dominican Republic proclaimed. 

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 

Santo Domingo or the Dominican Republic claims for its territory the 
same extent as held by the Spaniards under the treaty of 1777, and hence 
all east of the line of the Pedernales and Massacre rivers. The extent 
of this portion of the island is at least three-fifths of the whole. 

Civil Divisions, etc. — The Republic is divided into five provinces — 

Provinces. Area, Bq. m. PopTilation. Pop. to sq. m. Capitals. Popula. 

Santo Domingo 3.826 35.000 9.15 Santo Domingo 10.000 

Azua-de-Compostela 4,818 15,200 3.52 Azua 1 600 

Santa-Cruz-del-Seybo 3,709 20,000 5.89 Seybo 2,300 

Santias;o-de-]os-Caballeros. . 3,1T2 38,500 10.58 Santiago 7,000 

Concep9ion-de-la- Vega 2,584 33,000 12.77 La Vega 3,600 

Total 17,609 136,500 7.75 

— of the population at least nine-tenths are of African origin, or of African 
and European intermixed. The remainder are Spaniards and Creoles. 
Industry. — The Dominicans are almost entirely an agricultural people. 
The staples of the south provinces consist chiefly of the products of the 
forests. In Seybo, however, the raising of cattle is the main occupation. 
But by far the most industrious part is the north, generally called the 
Cibao, where the staple article is an excellent quality of tobacco, of 
which, according to the season, 50,000 to 80,000 seroons are produced. 
The articles of export are mahogany, satin-wood, fustic, lignum-vitse, 
and brazil-wood, tobacco, hides, etc. The imports are chiefly flour and 
provisions from the United States, and general merchandise from Europe. 



THE WEST INDIES — SANTO DOMINaO. 



28 



The following table exhibits the statistics of this trade for the year 1852 
and the three years next previous : 

^-Entrances.— V Value of ,— Clearances.— , Value of , Total Commerce. , 

Ports. Vess. Tons. Imports. Vess. Tons. Exports. Vesa. Tons. Value. 

Santo Dominao (S.). 162 19,375 $636,178 .. 140 18,468 $677,073 .. 802 37.843 $1,313,251 
Porto Plata (N.) ... 162 10,680 527,189.. 158 11,446 878,856.. 320 22,126 1,406,045 

Totall852 324 30,055 $1,163.367.. 298 29.914 $1,555,929.. 622 59,969 $2,719,296 

" 1851 279 24,449 1,141,891. . 261 21,776 1,184,914.. 540 46,225 2,326,805 

« 1850 272 22,403 731.875.. 268 23,290 1,008,173.. 540 45.693 1,737,048 

" 1849 248 20,082 256,282.. 216 16,139 611,875.. 464 36,221 868,157 

— showing a total increase in four years equal to 213 per cent. 

Government, ETC.^The constitution of the Republic is based on that of 
Venezuela. The Congress, which assembles annually, consists of 15 
deputies, three from each province, who form the Tribunado or lower 
chamber, and five senators, one from each province, constituting the 
Consejo Conservador or upper chamber. The executive power is vested 
in a prqgident, who is elected for four years, and who must be a Domin- 
ican by birth and at least 35 years of age. The judiciary is exercised 
by a supreme court and various inferior and local courts ; and the French 
code has been adopted in legal proceedings. In 1852 the revenue 
amounted to $374,516; and the ordinary expenditures amount annually 
to about $250,000. No foreign debt is owing: but there exists a large 
home debt on which the currency is based, and hence is of low and fluc- 
tuating value. The army amounts to 12,000 men, and may be raised 
to 16,000. The navy consists of three corvettes and five schooners 
equipped as war vessels, and mounted with 44 guns. The prevailing 
religion is the Roman Catholic, but the exercise of all other rites is tol- 
erated. The archbishop still bears the title of Primate of the Indies, 
although it has not a single suffragan. Public . instruction is neglected, 
even in its primary elements, and, except in the towns, the people have 
no means of education. In the capital there is a college. 

Cities, Towns, etc. — Santo Doiningo^ the capital and principal sea-port, 
is situate on the south-west, at the mouth of the Ozama River, and is 
surrounded by walls and bastions. Lat. 18° 28^ north, and long. 69° 50'' 
west. It was the first permanent settlement of the Spaniards in Amer- 
ica. The harbor is secure, but unfit for large ships. The city has wide 
and regular streets, and the houses, chiefly of stone, are of one story. 
The most conspicuous public building is the cathedral, commenced in 
1514, under Diego, son of Columbus, and in wiiich the ashes of the great 
discoverer rested for upward of two centuries. There are also 1 4 churches 
and chapels. The other principal edifices are — the national palace, the 
palace of the congress, the cabildo or town-house, college, citadel, ar- 



24 THE WEST INDIES — SANTO DOMINGO. 

senal, hospitals, etc. The rums of the Jesuits' college, the palace of Don 
Diego, and the convent of San Francisco are striking features of the city, 
and fit mementoes of its-former magnificence. The first blow to the pros- 
perity of Santo Domingo was struck in 1586 by Sir Francis Drake, who 
took it by assault, pillaged, and nearly destroyed it. The earthquakes 
of 1684 and 1691 ruined most of the buildings which Drake had spared. 
And lastly the spoliations of the Haytians in 1822-24 deprived it of many 
of its most interesting monuments. Porto Plata, on the north coast, 12 
miles north-west of Santiago, is the second principal port of the republic, 
and the outlet of the commerce of the northern provinces. There are 
other ports on both sides of the island. The Bay of Samana forms one 
of the finest harbors in the world, and may be regarded as a most im- 
portant maritime position in reference to the trade of the Gulf of Mexico 
and the inter-oceanic routes across Central America, both in a commer- 
cial and military point of view._ Among the places in the interior the 
following deserve to be mentioned, viz., Azua, where Hernandes Cortez 
was a public notary; Concepcion-de-la-Vega, for the proximity of Fort 
Concepcion, constructed by Columbus, and ^anto Cerro, where he erect- 
ed a cross. Saniiago-de-los-Caballeros was founded by the dissolute 
hidalgos in the company of Columbus ] it lies on the right bank of the 
river Yacki, and is now" the second town of the Republic. Besides these 
may be noticed — Higuey, Seybo, San Juan de Maguana, Neybo, Bani, 
San Cristoval, Bayaguana, Monte Plata, Cotuy, and Boya, the last famed 
as the place of refuge of Enriquillo, the last of the Haytian caziques. 
Recent History. — The Spanish colonists threw off their allegiance to 
Spain, and on the 30th Nov., 1821, declared themselves independent, 
under the name of the Republic of Spanish Hayti. This measure was 
not generally approved of; and the colored and black inhabitants pre- 
ferring annexation to French Hayti, Boyer, then president of that por- 
tion of the island, availing himself of this dissatisfaction, marched against 
the city of Santo Domingo, and overthrowing the provisional government, 
united the whole island under one government. The union, which had 
never been cordial, lasted for 21 years. On the fall of Boyer, the Span- 
iards again asserted their independence, and on the 27th Feb., 1844, 
proclaimed the Dominican Republic. Herard Riviere, who succeeded 
Boyer, marched with an army of 20,000 men upon Santo Domingo, but 
was defeated by Gen. Pedro Santana, at Azua, who compelled the Hay- 
tians to retreat within their own territory. The provincial junta of the 
new republic now formed a constitution, and elected Santana president. 
He was followed by Gen. Jimenes in 1848, Soulouque, then president 



THE WEST INDIES — SPANISH ISLANDS. 25 

of Hayti, attempted in 1849 to reconquer the territory with an army of 
5,000 men, but was signally defeated at Las Carreras, on the river Ocoa, 
21st April, 1849, by Santana, who had only 400 men under his com- 
mand. For this victory Santana received the title of '' Libertador de la 
Patria." Gen. Jimenes, the president, not being fitted for his task, and 
the invading army having been driven out of the country, Santana was 
called upon to restore order within the Republic, and to force the presi- 
dent to resign. This effected, Santana directed the affairs of state until 
a new election had taken place, by which, upon his recommendation, 
Buenaventura Baez was named president. During his administration 
treaties of recognition and commerce with Great Britain, France, and 
Denmark were concluded. On the 3d July, 1853, Baez was banished, 
and Santana himself raised to the presidency. It may here be stated that 
Spain has not yet relinquished her claims upon her former colony. 



SPANISH ISLANDS. 
Spain, the discoverer of the New World, and the original mistress of one- 
third of North, the whole of Central, and more than half of South 
America, at the present day occupies only two islands in the Atlantic 
Ocean — Cuba and Porto Rico, and their dependencies. The continental 
portions of her ancient territories are either merged into the United 
States or have become independent states; and the' many islands once 
under its sovereignty are now either independent or colonies of other 
European powers. Thus, instead of an empire, we describe a compar- 
atively small colonial possession. 

THE ISLAND OF CUBA. 

Cuba, the largest of the West India Islands, is situate at the entrance of 
the Gulf of Mexico, and about 130 miles south of Florida, 48 from Santo 
Domingo, 95 from Jamaica, and 132 from Yucatan, in their nearest 
points. It extends in a crescent form, bowing northward, from Cabo de 
Maisi on the east to Cabo de San Antonio on the west, or between lon- 
gitudes 740 7'' and 84° 57^ west, and between latitudes 19° 50^ and 23° 
10^ north. ' Area, with its dependencies, 47,278 square miles. 

General Description. — The island is intersected longitudinally by a 
range of mountains, diminishing in height from east to west. At the 
east end, where they are diffused over nearly the entire surface, they 
attain their greatest elevation, about 8,000 feet. From the bases of these 
highlands the country opens into extensive meadows or beautiful plains 



26 THE WEST INDIES — SPANISH ISLANDS. 

and savannahs, with occasionally some low, swampy tracts. Owing to 
the nature of the surface and narrowness of the island there are no rivers 
of magnitude. The largest, the Cauto, with its sources in the Sierra 
del Cohre, falls into the Bay of Buena Esperanza, after a course alto- 
gether of about 90 miles. None of the streams are navigable excepting 
for a few miles inland and by small boats. The coasts are in general 
exceedingly foul, presenting reefs and shallows which extend two or 
three miles into the sea, and make approach difficult. Within these 
reefs there is often a good sandy beach, but more frequently a belt of low- 
land, subject to inundation, wet at all times, and in the rainy season 
almost impassable. On all sides, however, there are good harbors, eli- 
gible ports, and fine bays. Geologically the island may be described as 
composed of granite, gneiss, sieiiite, and euphodite, overlain by secondary 
and tertiary formations, chiefly calcareous, containing numerous fossils, 
and through which the primitive rocks are often protruded. In some 
localities the limestone is exceedingly porous and cavernous, absorbing 
rapidly the tropical rains, and even engulfing considerable streams. 
The latest calcareous formation is entirely coraliferous, and is constantly 
accumulating on all the coasts. The mineral riches of Cuba have not yet 
been fully explored, but it is known that it is not deficient in this respect. 
The precious metals have been found,, but not in abundance. Copper, 
however, is extensively deposited, especially in the Sierra del Cobre. In 
.the mountains of Juragua there are alum and copperas mines, and coal has 
been recently discovered near Habana. Serpentine, chalcedony, mag- 
nesia, iron pyrites, quartz, and feldspar slates and schists have also been 
found in various places. The schistose formation shows itself most con- 
spicuously at the base of the mountains of San Juan and Trinidad, where 
great masses of slate may be seen, of a dark blue color, and of a pyritous 
and bituminous quality. Near Habana a thick slate is found, fit for 
pavements. Mineral springs are numerous ; and on the north coast are 
extensive lagoons, which in dry years produce immense quantities of 
marine salt. The climate is hot and moist near the coasts, but in the 
interior cool and healthy. Vegetation is exceedingly luxuriant," forests 
of mahogany, ebony, cedar, fustic, and other useful woods, abound, and 
the savannahs are covered with flowers and odoriferous plants. Maize 
or Indian corn is the principal cereal cultivated, and of this two crops are 
annually produced. In many districts rice is also a large crop. But the 
principal products are sugar, coffee, and tobacco ; also a little cotton, cocoa, 
and indigo. The principal fruits are the pine or ananas, oranges, shad- 
docks, plantains, bananas, melons, lemons, and sweet limes. The only 



THE WEST INDIES — SPANISH ISLANDS. 



27 



indigenous quadruped ever known in Cuba is the huitia, which resem- 
bles a large rat, about 18 inches long and without tail. Birds, however, 
are numerous, and in great variety ', and insects, including many that 
are noxious, as jiggers, ants, mosquitoes, and spiders, abound. The most 
remarkable of the reptiles are the maja and the juba — the former from 
12 to 14 feet long, and the latter about 6 feet long, and both are danger- 
ous. Scorpions and centipedes are also very numerous. The shores 
abound with turtle, and in the deep gulfs and bays the crocodile and 
cayman are found ; while the manati and iguana are not uncommon — 
the first in fresh-water pools and the latter on the banks of streams, 
lagoons, etc. Fish is abundant, especially on the north coast. 
Military Divisions, Extent, Population, etc. — Cuba is divided into two 
departments, and thirty jurisdictions or intendancies, as follows : 



Area, , 

Jurisdictions. sq. m. White. 

Occidental Department : 

Pinar del Rio 3,713 21,843 

San Crist6bal 905 11,578 

Bahia-Honda 762 4,124 

Mariel 572 15,921 

San Antonio 154 12,284 

Habana 893 87,916 

Santiago 214 7,194 

Bejucal 191 10,817 

Guanabacoa 166 10.72 1 

Eosario 309 11,764 

Giiines 1,131 18,214 

Jaruco 512 10,218 

Matanzas 856 37,721 

Cardenas 1,262 27,521 

Sagua 1,464 14,534 

Cienfuegos 2,558 17,811 

Villa Clara 1,345 25,592 

Trinidad 868 15.208 

Eemedios 2,489 15,149 

Santo Espiritu 3,819 24,321 



—Population (1854).- 
Free Col. Slave 



3,824 
1,923 
621 
2,849 
1,721 
32,594 
1.597 
1,746 
3,273 
2,841 
2,442 
1,875 
5,948 
3.824 
1,173 
4,124 
8.523 
7,324 
3.821 
6,394 



6,548 

5,494 

19.422 

10,188 

26,850 

4,964 

7.938 

4,322 

5,428 

16,918 

8,186 

40,728 

55,016 

10,001 

11,318 

5,301 

9,318 

4,012 

6,816 



Total. 

35,665 
20,049 
10,239 
38,192 
24,193 
147,360 
13,755 
20,501 
18,316 
20.033 
37,574 
20.229 
81,397 
86.361 
25,708 
33,253 
39,421 
31,850 
22,982 
37,532 



Capitals. 



Popula. 



Total 24,133 397,451 



1,442 268,717 764,610 



Oriental Department : 

Puerto Principe 6,009 

Nuevitas 2.261 

Tunas 2,725 

Manzanillo 1.380 

Holguin 2.523 

Bayamo 1,309 

Jiguani 702 • 

Cuba 3,177 

Guantanamo 1,595 

Baracoa 1,464 



26,893 
2,721 
3,818 
7,321 

19,427 

10,721 
6.721 

21,524 
1,574 
3,817 



10,318 
397 

1,821 
11.143 

3,271 
11,217 

4.318 
29,718 

2,281 

3,721 



9,321 

1,742 

722 

917 

3,827 
2,724 
684 
34,000 
5,928 
1,842 



46,532 

4,860 

6,361 

19,381 

26,525 

24,662 

11,723 

85.242 

9,783 

9,381 



PinardelEio 1,500 

SanCrist6bal 270 

Bahia-Honda 570 

Guanajay 3,000 

San Antonio Abad 2,890 

Habana 125,905 

Santiago 2,274 

Bejucal. 2,264 

Guanabacoa 8,100 

Eosario 450 

Giiines 3,542 

Jaruco 611 

Matanzas 26,000 

Cardenas 6,173 

Sagua la Grande . 2,510 

Cienfuegos 4,708 

Yilla Clara 6,604 

Trinidad 14,119 

Eemedios 5,270 

Santo Espiritu.... 9,982 



Puerto Principe . . 26,648 

Nuevitas 820 

Tunas 2,004 

Manzanillo 3,050 

Holguin 3,754 

Bayamo 5,875 

Jiguani 950 

Cuba 24,253 

Guaso 863 

Baracoa 2,400 



Total 23,145 104,537 78,205 61,708 244,450 



Grand total 47,278* 501,988 176,647 330,425 1,009,060 

* The areas of the adjacent islands and cayos are included in those of the jurisdictions to 
which they severally belong: the Isla de Pinos, in the jurisdiction of Habana, contains 709 
sq. m., and 1,400 inhabitants ; the Cayo Romano, in Puerto Principe, 190 sq. m. ; Cayo Gua- 
jaba, 21 sq. m. ; Cayo Cocos, 37 sq. m. ; Cayo Turiguano, 51 sq. m. ; Cayo Ensenachos, 25 sq. 
m. ; Cayo Cruz, 76 sq. m. ; Cayo Largo, 43 sq. m., etc. 



28 THE WEST INDIES— SPANISH ISLANDS. 

— there were also in Cuba about 40,940 persons who were classed as 
transient residents, and not accounted for in the census. Of the whites, 
about 90,000 were Spaniards and 25,000 Canary islanders, 3,000 French, 
1,000 English, and 3,000 North American and other people. 
Productive Industry. — Cuba is agricultural and commercial. It has 
few manufactures, properly so called ; nor are its copper mines, though 
a conspicuous, a very remunerative interest, and, moreover, these are 
worked mainly on foreign account. 

The staples of agriculture are sugar, coffee, and tobacco; in 1852 the 
sugar crop amounted to 29,165,238 arrobas (1=25 lbs.); coffee, 
1,166,902 arrobas; and tobacco, 222,020 cargas. The other principal 
products were — molasses, 267,185 bocoyes (1 = 36 gals.); rum, 39,411 
pipas; beeswax, 74,903 arrobas; and honey, 106,175 barriles (1 — 6 
gals.). Root-crops aVe abundant. The breeding of animals is also a 
valuable interest; in 1850 the live-stock consisted of — bulls and cows, 
773,353; working oxen, 128,480; horses and asses, 214,588; mules, 
23,131 ; hogs, 928,952 ; sheep, 53,763 ; goats, 29,385 ; pea-fowl, 75,646 ; 
geese, 25,115; common fowls, 1,562,152 ; Guinea fowls, 143,177; ducks, 
189,708, etc. The annual value of agricultural stock and products is 
about sixty million dollars. Only about a twentieth part of the island 
is under cultivation. 

The making of sugar and rum, and the preparation of coffee and 
tobacco for market constitute the chief manufactures. A large number 
of persons are also employed in the manufacture of cigars ; and many 
articles for home-use are made in families. Ship-building is also car- 
ried on ; and in Habana and Guanabacoa steam and other machinery 
is built, while at Puentes-Grandes a paper-mill is in operation. There 
are also numerous sugar refineries, tanneries, etc. Perfumery, phos- 
phorus, jewelry, plate, carriages, etc., are more or less manufactured. 

Commerce is in a very flourishing condition. The exports consist 
principally of the natural and agricultural products of the island, as 
mahogany, dye-woods, drugs, sugar, coffee, tobacco, etc. In 1851 there 
was exported — sugar, 1,549,893 cajas (1 = 16 arrobas) ; coffee, 625,113 
arrobas; beeswax, 47,453 arrobas; molasses, 341,594 bocoyes; leaf 
tobacco 9,316,593 pounds, and cigars 270,313 thousands; cocoa, 7,039 
arrobas; rum, 9,221 pipas; copper ore, 432,882 quintals, etc. — in all 
valued at S3 1,349, 357. The imports consist chiefly of grain, flour, salt 
meat, and fish, etc., from the United States, and general merchandise 
from England, France, Spain, Germany, etc. The following table ex- 
hibits the statistics of the shipping employed in foreign commerce, and 



THE WEST INDIES — SPANISH ISLANDS. 



29 



the value of imports and exports, with the duties thereon, for the year 
1851 : 

, Navigation. > , Commerce. — < 

Ports. Entrances. Clearances. Imports. Kxports. 

Habana 1,749 .... 1,622 $25,51 9,146 ... -$16 577.001 

Matanzas 499.... '578 1,889.478.... 5,373.370. 

Cardenas 413.... 414 638.582.... 1,299,(55. 

■vr-iripl 33 .. — 3.527 T.rfoU. 

TrSad 197.... 188 706,987.... 1,608,017. 

S«?gos:::: 266:.... 230 f},\f.-- \2JK?9- 

Nuevitas 52.... 52 162,llo.... 206,519. 

sS 129 .. 129 128,221.... 1,217.108. 

Sedios-;::: 46.:.. 47 53:129.... 284,192 

SantoCruz... 19.... 20 „^,569.... 54,220. 

Santo Espiritu 11.... 11 29.384.... ^42,206. 

Cuba.... .... 314.... 311 2,136.988.... 2,6Slfll. 

Jibara 37.... 34 233,734-... 800,171, 

Manzanillo... 65.... 65 ^f^^^A'-'- ?$H?^ 

Baracoa 34.... 31 68,183.... 170^10. 

Guantanamo . 1 1 2,320 





Import. 


Export. 


$4.776,571.. 


$1,020,905 


568.186.. 


. . 305.088 


187,6.38.. 


. . 38,277 


1,000.. 


— 


181,197.. 


. . 74,415 


179,754.. 


. . 73.900 


39,760.. 


. . 10,886 


64,976.. 


. . 72.874 


24,848.. 


. . 23,974 


7,347.. 


2.389 


8,129.. 


2,972 


530,658.. 


. . 108,024 


36,463.. 


., 82,931 


55.548.. 


. . 16,888 


16,450.. 


9,280 


310.. 


181 



Total 



3,865.... 8,733 $32,315,145... $31,349,357 $6,678,835... $1,793,984 

—of the vessels inward, 883 were Spanish, and 2,982 foreign, and of 
those outward, 793 were Spanish, and 2,940 foreign. 

The following table exhibits the average quantities of the principal 
products of the island exported annually, in quinquinnial periods : 

Su-ar Kum, Molasses, Coffee, Beeswax, Tobacco. ,. Cigars Copper Ore, 

T, • A „Jtn^n^ m-o,(V torowes arrohaL arrobris. arrobas. libras or lbs. quintals. 

IR9T30 6508137 3606 72921.. 1.718,865.. 25,789. .102,915. . 245,097.. - 

{526-30. ... 6.508,lg.. d,buj < 1.995,832.. 33.582.. 99,763.. 471,99-3.. 

icIa i^'" inilq'^^^" 6 235 128 447 1,877 444.. 32,253. .195,487.. 790,467.. - 

lS?i?---" lKS"" 9157"" 147074: 1,3.32997.. 37,407 .. 244 872 . . 941,467.. 1,023,838 

isSio:::: iSfe?:: 13,653:: 2io,i5t:: 768,244.. 48:i4i.. 291,347.. 896,oo8.. 598,647 

—and the annexed shows the progressive value of the average annual 
commercial movement : 

Increase Increase Increase 

lll^-E *ifi 75fi 448 ■ 8 7 12 887 339 .... 1.3 29,643,787. ... 5.4 

J1^-4S M'652'766-::: 29:2::::::: SfeW.... 4.3.6 fA^,tii^---?A 

}l^,^~i2 99 4723^5 8 7 24,099,646 .... 30.2 46.572,001 .... 15.9 

IsSlo :::::::: l'fmJ&.v^^:/^v^ 2^^----j^ 51,979,742.... il6 

Jncr.in2otfrs.inm^'-- ^5.5 $12,111,059.... 95.3 $23,849,124.... 84.8 

—the value of domestic produce exported in 1846 was $21,587,5-64; in 
1847, $27,296,954; in 1848, $25,312,553; in 1849, $21,896,526; and 
in 1850, $25,043,154: average of five years, $24,227,350. 

The mercantile navy consists of 639 vessels of all sizes, of which 7 
are vessels of over 400 tons, 30 of 200 to 400 tons, 99 of 80 to 200 tons, 
295 of 20 to 80 tons, and 208 of less than 20 tons. Of these 20 are 
steamers, and 389 of foreign construction. 

Regular steamship lines are established between Habana and New 
York,°Charleston, Key West, Mobile, and New Orleans, m the United 
States; Vera Cruz, in Mexico; Aspinwall, in Central America; Rio 



30 THE WEST INDIES — SPANISH ISLANDS. 

Janeiro and Buenos Ayres, in South America ; Southampton and Liver- 
pool, in England; and Cadiz, in Spain, All the steamships composing 
these lines carry the public mails, and run either semi-monthly or 
monthly. 

Internal communication is amply provided for. All the chief ports 
are connected by lines of coasting steamers and sail- vessels. Common 
roads of the island are open from one to the other end, with lateral 
roads diverging to the coast towns ; and the railroad, introduced in 1837, 
now traverses over a length of 351 miles. The principal railroads are 
those from Habana to Batabana and Matanzas; from Cardenas to 
Navajas ; the Jucaro railroad, and those from Villa Clara to Cienfuegos, 
and from Puerto Principe to Nuevitas. Several of the large cities are 
also connected by lines of the electro-magnetic telegraph. 

Government, etc. — All branches of the administration are subject to a 
representative of the Spanish crown, who is at the same time captain- 
general, superior civil governor, president of the Audiencia Real, etc., 
and who is appointed by and amenable only to the home government. 
The whole island constitutes a single province. For political and civil 
purposes it is divided into three governments — Habana, Matanzas, and 
Cuba, and these are subdivided into sub-governments, parishes, etc. 
Habana comprises all the jurisdictions of the occidental department ex- 
cept Matanzas, and is under the immediate charge of the superior civil 
governor; Matanzas is a separate government, and Cuba comprises all 
the jurisdictions of the oriental department. The two latter are subject 
to civil governors, nearly independent of the supreme civil governor. 
The principal civil tribunal is the royal court [audiencia real pretorial) 
of Habana, which has jurisdiction over the whole island, and is presided 
over by the superior civil governor. Provincial courts {ayuntamientos) 
are also established, and police courts in the rural districts. The ecclesi- 
astical are coterminous vrith the military divisions. 

Public Accounts. — The total receipts into the treasury in 1850 amounted to 
$12,248,713, of which $6,721,251 was maritime revenue, and $5,527,402 
internal revenue ; and the expenditures amounted to $11,779,160. The 
revenue for the ten years then ending had been as follows : 

Years. Maritime. Internal. Total. 

1841.... $7,266,464.. $4.650,835.. $11,917,299 

1842.... 7.383.346.. 4,731.496.. 12.114.843 

1843.... 6,987.017.. 3.407,040.. 10,394.057 

1844.... 7,160^631.. 3.329,621.. 10,490.252 

1S45.... 5,370,748.. 3,629,252.. 9,000,000 

The expenditures in 1851 were— civil $1,841,010, military $5,028,901, 
naval $2,045,004, and miscellaneous $1,300,731; and $1,563,513 was 



Years. 


Maritime. 


. Internal. 


Total. 


1846.. 


. $6,232,967. 


$4,907,811. 


$11,140,779 


1847.. 


. 7.494,330 . 


5,314,-383. 


12,808,713 


1848.. 


. 7,396,726. 


6,088.715. 


13,435,441 


1849.. 


. 6,429,160. 


5.840.260. 


12,269,420 


1850.. 


. 6,721,250. 


..5,527,462. 


12,248,712 



THE WEST INDIES — SPANISH ISLANDS. 31 

transmitted to Spain in support of legations, pensioners, and employees 
connected with the island government. 

Armed Forces. — The land force of Cuba consists of 16 regiments of in- 
fantry of 1,100 men ; two of cavalry of four squadrons, each of 151 men ; 
one of artillery with eight batteries, and a company of sappers and miners 
with five batteries ; and a company of engineers — the whole force amount- 
ing to 17,600 infantry, 1,808 cavalry, 1,500 artillery, and 130 engineers, 
in all 21j038 men. In this enumeration is not included the civil guard. 
The naval squadron comprises 25 vessels carrying 219 guns, and is 
manned by 3,000 seamen and marines. Among these is 1 frigate, 44 
guns- 7 brigs, 104 guns; 11 steamers, 54 guns; 4 goletas, 11 guns; 2 
gun-boats, 6 guns; 2 transports, etc. 

Education, Religion, etc. — Both religion and education are under the 
immediate protection of the government. For ecclesiastical purposes the 
island is divided into two dioceses, the archbishopric of Cuba and the 
bishopric of Habana, and these are divided into vicarages and curacies. 
The Roman Catholic is established to the exclusion of all other religions, 
and is that universally professed by the people. Public education has 
made notable progress, and is under the patronage of the royal economic 
societies of Habana and Cuba, and controlled by a special commission. 
The total number of persons employed in giving primary instruction 
is about 460, and the number of scholars about 10,000. In Habana 
there is a royal university, which has a staff of 30 professors — in 1851 
it had 252 matriculants, and of these 61 graduated. There are also 
ecclesiastical seminaries in Habana and Caba; and in the principal 
.places are good grammar schools. Among the many Cubans who have 
distinguished themselves in literature are — the poets Zequeria, Rubal- 
caba, Heredia, Blanchie, and Milanes ; the dramatist Alarcos ; the nov- 
elist De Merlin ; the historians Arrate, Urritia, Valdes, and Heredia ; 
the statist De la Torre; the grammarian Vidal; the lawyers Ayala, 
Hechavarrea, Ponce de Leon, Escovedo, Armas, and Govantes ; and the 
physician Romay. In Habana 4 daily papers and 1 monthly and 3 
other periodicals are issued, and in all the principal towns one or more 
papers are published weekly. 

Cities, Towns, etc. — Cuba contains 13 cities, 8 towns, and 102 villages. 
Habana^ the capital and principal sea-port, stands on the west side of the 
entrance of a magnificent land-locked harbor, in lat. 23° 9^ 4''^ north, and 
82° 22^ west, and is strongly protected by forts and walls, the latter dividing 
it from the suburbs Salud, Guadalupe, etc., in which nearly half of the 
population resides. The suburb Regla is on the opposite side of the har- 



32 THE WEST INDIES — SPANISH ISLANDS. 

bor. The streets of the city are narrow, but the suburbs well laid out and 
paved, generally with granite. The buildings are mostly of stone ; and 
among these the most conspicuous are the cathedral (containing the 
ashes of Columbus), the government palace, admiralty, post-office, royal 
tobacco factory, and the casa de benejiciencia, numerous churches, con- 
vents, etc. There are about 90 male and 66 female schools in the city, 
a university, and an ecclesiastical seminary, a theatre capable of hold- 
ing 6,000 persons, and other places of public amusement. It is connect- 
ed with Batabana, Matanzas, Cardenas, etc., by railroad. Matanzas^ 
second only to Habana in commercial prosperity, is situate in a deep 
bay on the north coast, about 60 miles east of the capital. It has a well- 
sheltered harbor, partly inclosing the town, and has acquired all its 
importance since the commencement of the present century. Puerto 
Principe is situate in the interior, about 45 miles west-south-west of its 
port Las Nuevitas, with which it is connected by railroad, and was 
formerly the seat of the audiencia real or royal court, Santiago de Cuba, 
is the principal sea-port of the south coast. It has a magnificent harbor, 
and is chiefly engaged in the exportation of copper ore. It is the see of 
the archbishop, and contains a cathedral, theological seminary, several 
learned societies, and a theatre. The city was greatly injured by an 
earthquake in 1853. The other cities are — Santiago, Bejucal, Rosario, 
Jaruco, Trinidad, Nuevitas, Bayamo, Holguin, and Baracoa, and the 
towns are — San Antonio, Guanabacoa, Giiines, Cienfuegos, Villa-Clara, 
Remedies. Santo Espiritu, and Manzanillo. All other places are vil- 
lages. 
History. — Cuba was discovered on the 28th October, 1492, by Columbus, 
who revisited it in 1494, and again in 1502. In 1511 the Spaniards 
formed their first settlements on the island, and with slight interruption 
have retained possession of it ever since. In 1762 Habana was captured 
by the British, but was restored in the following year. From this period 
the history of Cuba presents little more interesting than a catalogue of 
captains-general and bishops down to the period 1809-11, when the ports 
were opened to the shipping and trade of foreign countries. This event 
marks the commencement of the material prosperity of the island, which 
is still only in course of development. For the past few years the quiet 
of the inhabitants has been disturbed by piratical expeditions from the 
United States ; and the avowed design of the g( 
to acquire the island by purchase or conquest. 



THE WEST INDIES — SPANISH ISLANDS. 



33 



THE ISLAND OF PORTO RICO. 

Porto Rico, the smallest of the Great Antilles, and the most eastward, is 
situate between latitudes 17° 56' and 18° 22^ north, and longitudes 
65° 4V and 67° 12^ west from Greenwich. In shape the island is par- 
allelogramic ; its length about 90 miles, and its breadth about 36 miles. 
Area, with dependencies, 3.865 square miles. 

General Description. — A range of wooded mountains traverses the island 
east and west, averaging 1,500 feet, and in their loftiest culmination 
attaining an elevation of 3,678 feet above the sea. In the interior are 
extensive savannahs; and in some parts, along the coasts, there are 
tracts of level fertile land from 5 to 10 miles wide, while in others the 
mountains approach much nearer to the sea. Nearly the whole north 
coast is lined by long and deep lagoons, and many of the rivers can be 
navigated to the base of the mountains. The north coast is subject to 
heavy ground seas, which beat against the cliffs with great violence. 
There are, nevertheless, good harbors on both sides of the island, and 
numerous bays and creeks deep enough for vessels of considerable ton- 
nage. The climate is generally salubrious; and vegetation, fostered 
by its warm moisture, is exceedingly luxuriant. The principal timber 
growths are ebony, cedar, lignum-vitse, mahogany, logwood, etc., and 
many plants valuable in the arts and pharmacy grow spontaneously. 
Among the minerals found in Porto Rico the most valuable are copper, 
iron, lead, and coal ; and gold is found in the streams. There are also 
two considerable salt-ponds, which are worked by the government. 

Divisions, etc.— Porto Rico, with its dependencies, is divided into eight 
departments or districts, as follows : 

Departmeuts,etc. Area, «.. xn. Pop.la. (1S4B). ^°P- ^;;^- ^ , g Jf JJl7^B^^,,,^^ 

La Capital 565 70,861 125.42 -| Bavamon 8,125 

Arecibo 676 54,044 79.98 Arecibo 11,187 

ig-diHa 257 57,322 223.04 AgufS^^. ........ ... 10,458 

Mayagues 684 99,895 146.04 .j g^^ German 44,402 

Pence 738 71,168 96.44 Ponce 21,466 

H-acao 843 41,593 121.26 ^^^-■■::-:^ 

Guayama 529 51,756 97.83 -j ca^uas 7,808 

Isla de Yieque 73 1,275 17.46 Isabela Secunda 354 

Total 3^5 447,914 115.88 

—of the total population 220,045 were Spaniards and their descendants, 
and 227,869 African and mixed races, of which about 45,000 are slaves. 
The total population in 1836 numbered 357,086 souls : the increase in 
the ten years to 1846 was thus in the ratio of 25.5 per cent., and hence, 
with the same rate, the island in 1856 will have 562,134 inhabitants. 



34 THE WEST INDIES — SPANISH ISLANDS. 



Industry. — The resources of Porto Rico are essentially agricultural. 
Until lately none of its mines were worked ; nor has manufacturing 
industry made any progress. Not more than one-twelfth of the island 
is under cultivation. The principal products are sugar, coffee, and 
tohacco ', and extensive farms are laid off for the rearing of live-stock. 
The capital invested in agriculture in 1846 amounted to $40,796,464, 
and the value of agricultural products for the year preceding amounted to 
$6,896,621. The capital employed in other industries was $7,823,545, 
and the production $448,344. The value of products exported in 1851 
was $5,761,975, and of imports $6,073,870; and the customs collected 
on these amounted to $1,069,418. The chief articles of exports in the 
same year were— sugar, 118,416,300 pounds • coffee, 12,111,900 pounds; 
tobacco, 6,478,100 pounds; hides, 632,700 pounds; cotton, 366,600 
pounds; molasses, 45,976 hogsheads; rum, 347 hogsheads; cattle, 
5,881 head; cigars, 34,800 thousands, and smaller quantities of cocoa, 
oranges, plantains, logwood, lignum-vitse, pimento, annato, castor oil, 
etc. The number of vessels entered at the various ports was 1,324, 
measuring 160,586 tons. San Juan, Mayagiies, Ponce, Guayama, 
Aguadilla, Naguabo, and Arecibo are the principal ports. 

Government, etc. — The government, laws, and institutions are nearly 
similar to those established by Spain in her other Transatlantic posses- 
sions. Porto Rico is governed by a captain-general, whose authority is 
supreme in military affairs, and who is president of the Audiencia Real 
in civil affairs. In the towns which are capitals of districts, justice is 
administered by mayors or judges of the first instance, and in the smaller 
towns and villages by inferior magistrates called alcaldes. The Real 
Audiencia is the supreme court of the island, and is held at the capital. 
District courts are held at the capital, Arecibo, Aguadilla, Mayagiies, 
San German, Ponce, Caguas, and Humacao. Each of the eight districts 
has its military commandant. The regular land force consists of three 
European regiments, each of 900 men, a brigade of artillery, six batal- 
lions of disciplined militia infantry, and a regiment of cavalry — in all 
about 10,000 men; and the militia numbers about 45,000 in all. The 
naval force, which is essentially a section of the Habana fleet, consists 
of a ship of war, a schooner, and some score gun-boats. The people are 
w^holly Roman Catholic, and are under a bishop. Education has of 
late years been attended to, and is now accessible to all, either in the 
free schools or at private establishments in all the larger towns. 

Chief Towns, etc. — Porto Rico (San Juan de), the principal city, and a 
fine sea-port, is situate on the north coast in lat. 17° 56^, and long. 



THE WEST INDIES — BEITISH ISLANDS. 



35 



66'^ 10^. It stands on a small island connected with the mainland by a 
bridge, and is surrounded by strong fortifications. It has six churches 
and chapels, the bishop's palace, a military hospital, theatre, town- 
house, jail, custom-house, arsenal, etc., and is the seat of government 
and superior courts of the island. The harbor is very spacious, and 
capable of accommodating vessels of the largest size. It is one of the 
best regulated and most healthy towns of the West Indies. 
History. — Columbus discovered Porto Rico in 1493, at which period it is 
said to have had a population of 600,000 or 800,000 souls. In 1509 it 
was invaded by the Spaniards from Hayti, who in a few years extermi- 
nated the natives and took possession of the island. In the latter part 
of the seventeenth century it was captured by the English ; but soon 
after abandoned on account of mortality among the troops. From this 
time it has been free from foreign aggression ; but in 1820 a revolution 
was attempted in favor of separation from the mother-country, and inde- 
pendence. This was subdued in 1823. 



BRITISH ISLANDS 



The British West Indies consist of — the Bahamas, the island of Jamaica, 
several of the Caribbean Islands, and a number of small islands of the 
Virgin group. In a more extended sense, the term applies also to the 
Bermuda Islands in North America, Honduras, and the Bay Islands in 
Central America, and the colonies of Guayana in South America ; but 
these are more conveniently described in connection with the geograph- 
ical sections to which they properly belong. The islands included in 
the political family to which reference is now had are as follows . 



Islands. Area, sq. m. 

Bahamas.... 5,094 

Turk's and the Caicos 430 

Jamaica ^■?9? 

Caymans 



Trinidad ' 

Tobagro 

Grenada, etc 

St. Vincent 

Barbadoes 

St. Lucia 

Dominica 

Montserrat 

Antiscua 

St. Christopher . . 

Nevis 

Barbuda 

Anguilla J 



2.020 

144 

155 

132 

166 

296 

274 

47 

108 

68 

21 

72 

84 



Virgin Islands 92 

Total 15,663 



Popnla. 

27,519 

4.428 

377.433 

1.760 

68,645 

13,208 

32,671 

30,128 

135.930 

24,516 

22,061 

7,653 

37.757 

23,177 

9,601 

1,707 

3,052 

6,689 

835,944 



Pop. to sq 

5.4 

10.3 

60.4 

6.7 

.33.9 

94.9 

210.7 

228.2 

818.9 

82.8 

80.5 

163.8 

349.6 

340.8 

457.2 

23.7 

89.8 

72.7 

53.8 



Capitals. Fopula. 

JSTassau 8,400 

Grand Turk 2,000 

Spanish Town 6,300 

Georgetown 200 

Puerto d'Espana 12,000 

Scarboro' 1,400 

St. Georgetown 1,800 

Kingstown 5,300 

Bndgetotvn 22,000 

Castries 2,600 

Roseau 4,800 

Plymouth 1,400 

St. John's 14,600 

Basse-Terre 7,600 

Charlestown 1,800 

Barbuda Castle — 

Anguilla 300 

Torlola 2,700 



36 THE WEST INDIES — BRITISH ISLANDS. 

— about four-fifths of the population are blacks and other colored races, 
and the remainder Europeans and their descendants. In St. Vincent and 
Trinidad a few hundred of the aboriginal Caribs still remain. 
The Bahamas or Lucayos are a group or archipelago which extends in a 
crescent- like form from Matanilla Pi.eef, in lat. 27° 50^, to the north-west 
side of Santo Domingo, in about lat. 21° north, and occupy a large por- 
tion of the space included between the 72d and 79th meridians. The 
principal islands are situate on those remarkable flats called the Bahama 
Banks, to the east of Florida channel. The inhabited islands are : 



Islands. Area, sq. m. Popiila. 

Harbor Island S 1,840 

Eleuthera, etc 223 4,610 

New Providence 101 8,159 

Eum Cayo and Acklin's ... 32 S58 

Crooked Island 252 1,092 

San Salvador or Cat Island 379 1,828 

Exuma, Little and Great. . 142 2,027 

Long Island 239 1,47* 

Abaco, etc 501 2,011 



Islands. Area, sq. m. Popula. 

Eagged Islands 5 347 

Andros .... I -rnnj 1,030 

GreenCavof '^''l 7 

Grand Bahama 451 922 

Berry Islands | q. J 236 

Bimini and Gun Cayo r •• **^ }...;.. 150 

Watling Island 44 384 

Inagna'^ClIeneagug) 376 530 

Cayo Sal and Anguilla 16 71 



— the approximate area of the whole group is stated at 5,094 square 
miles. Population in 1841, 23,401, and in 1851, 27,519. The princi- 
pal exports consist of salt, fruit, sponge, shells, turtle, dye-woods, bark, 
and fustic. In 1851 the exports were valued at $182,022, and the im- 
ports at S445,229. The shipping in the trade amounted to 31,117 tons, 
and the shipping belonging to the island to 144 vessels of 3,978 tons. 
The government consists of a governor, council, and house of assembly. 
In 1851 the revenue was $125,304. and the expenditures $120,326. 
The Bahamas are in the diocese of Jamaica. Nassau, on New Provi- 
dence, is the seat of government. San Salvador is noted as the first 
American land discovered by Columbus in 1492. The islands were 
settled by the English in 1666. 

Turk's Island and the Caicos, which are physically a portion of the 
Bahama group, were erected into a presidency under Jamaica in 1848. 
They lie south-east of the Bahama government, between Caicos and 
Mouchoir Carre passages. Area 430 square miles : population 4,428. 
Salt is the staple of export. The government is vested in a president 
and council of eight members. The president resides on Grand Turk. 

Jamaica is the largest of the British islands. It lies between lat. 17° 43' 
and 18° 32' north, and long. 76o 05' and 78° 26' west; length 146 and 
breadth 49 miles, and area 6,250 square miles. 

The island is traversed by lofty mountains. The Blue Mountains, occu- 
pying the centre, stretch east and west, and vary in elevation from 7.000 
to 8,000 feet. The more elevated ridges are flanked by lower ranges 
descending to verdant savannahs, and are covered with stately forests. 



THE WEST INDIES — BRITISH ISLANDS. 37 

These hills present the characteristics of the limestone formation, of 
which they consist, and caverns occur in several places, and some of 
them are very extensivb. Jamaica is well- watered, having numerous 
small rivers, rivulets, and springs, but none of the first, except Black 
River, are navigable. The cultivated products are sugar, indigo, coffee, 
and a little cotton. The quantity of sugar produced averages 41,678 
hogsheads. Horned cattle and mules are numerous, and sheep, goats, 
and hogs abound. The horses are fit only for the saddle. Fish of 
many kinds are found on the coast and in the rivers. The principal ex- 
ports, besides the above named, are arrow-root, pimento, rum, ginger, 
cocoa, logwood, molasses, and tobacco. The exports in 1851 were val- 
ued at $5,128j224, and the imports at $5,366,808. 

The population in 1848 numbered 377,433 souls. At the present 
time it is supposed to be much less, since the cholera of 1851-52 carried 
off" about 40,000, a number not supplemented by natural increase. 

Government is adrninistered by a governor and council appointed by 
the crown, and a house of assembly, the members of which are elected 
by the freeholders. The military establishment generally comprises 
four European regiments of the line, one West India regiment, a strong 
detachment of artillery, and the colonial militia. The revenue in 1851 
amounted to $866,736, and the expenditures to $1,049, 511. The church 
is presided over by a bishop, whose diocese extends over the Bahamas and 
Honduras. Education is rapidly extending, and in 1850 there were in 
the island 8 free schools connected with the established church, 82 public 
schools, and 9 free schools supported by the government, 46 Wesleyan 
mission schools, 21 Moravian, 1 Catholic, 2 Jews, and 33 other schools. 

Spanish Town, the capital, and Kingston, the chief port, 16 miles dis- 
tant, are connected by railway. The other towns are Montego Bay, 
Falmouth, and Lucea on the north coast, and Morant Bay on the south ; 
besides which there are the smaller towns of Black River, Savanna-la- 
Mar, and Port Morant on the south, and St. Ann's Bay, Port Maria, 
Anatto, and Antonio on the north coast. 

Jamaica was discovered by Columbus in 1494, and was first colonized 
by Spaniards in 1503. It remained subject to the crown of Spain until 
1655, when it was taken by the English. 
The Caymans, consisting of three principal islands, viz., Grand Cayman, 
Little Cayman, and Caymanbrac, are distant west-north-west from 
Jamaica, of which government they are dependencies, between 140 and 
200 miles, and are situate between lat. 19° 10^ and 19° 45^ north, and 
long. 79° 30^ and 81° 35^ west. Area about 260 square miles. Grand 



38 THE WEST INDIES — BRITISH ISLANDS. 

Cayman, which is the only one inhabited, is 20 miles long, and from 7 
to 10 miles wide; and is covered with cocoa-nut trees. On the west 
side is Georgetown, a large village ; but the other parts are thinly peo- 
pled. The chief occupation of the natives is in catching turtle for the 
markets of Jamaica and other islands. 
Trinidad, the most southerly of the islands, is separated from the main- 
land of South America only by the Gulf of Paria, and is evidently a 
section of the continent. Tt is about 90 miles long by 50 wide, and con- 
tains about 2,020 square miles. The population in 1851 numbered 
68,645, of which about 4,000 are of European origin, and the remainder, 
except some 600 aborigines, consists of Africans and their descendants. 

Approached from the north, Trinidad appears like an immense ridge 
of rocks — its east and south shores are also rocky and high ; but on the 
south, or side next the Gulf of Paria, it presents one of the most magnif- 
icent panoramas imaginable — the hills, valleys, and plains being cover- 
ed with perennial verdure. The mountain chains run west and east — 
in the north, near the sea, they attain an elevation of 3,000 feet ; in the 
centre is a less elevated group, and in the south a series of beautiful 
hills and knolls, among which numerous delightful valleys occur. In 
the intervals between these ranges are several extensive plains, stretch- 
ing nearly across the island. These plains are bountifully watered. 
The principal rivers are the Caroni, the Oropuche, and the Ortoire — the 
first two navigable. The nucleus of the mountains is a very dense 
argillaceous schist. There is no granite on the island ; but blocks of 
milky quartz are found in every valley. Gypsum and limestone are 
rare. Near Point Icaque, forming the south-west extremity of the land, 
are several mud volcanoes ; and submarine volcanoes also occur on both 
sides of the island — one on the west, near Cape Brea, which frequently 
discharges petroleum, and the other, near Cape Mayero, which in March 
and June gives detonations resembling thunder, succeeded by flames and 
smoke, and afterward ejecting bitumen. But the most remarkable 
phenomena of this kind in the island is the asphaltum or pitch lake, sit- 
uate in the leeward side, on a small peninsula jutting into the sea a little 
to the north-east of Guapo Bay. Several attempts have been made to 
ascertain the depth of the lake, but no bottom has ever been found. The 
climate is apparently less unhealthy than that of many of the other 
islands. Abundant dews cool and invigorate the atmosphere, and give 
an unrivaled luxuriance to vegetation. The soil is generally fertile, and 
the elevated parts are mostly covered with dense forests, among which 
the red cedar and various palms are conspicuous. 



THE WEST INDIES — BEITISH ISLANDS. 39 

The chief crop of Trinidad is cocoa. The other exportable products 
are sugar, molasses, rum, and coffee, small quantities of cotton and gin- 
ger, and asphaltum from the pitch lake. The exports of 1851 were 
valued at $1,383,696, and the imports at $1,996,512. 

Trinidad is a crown colony, the public affairs being administered by 
a governor, assisted by an executive and a legislative committee. The 
revenue in 1851 amounted to $425,568, and the expenditures were 
$371,532. Schools are established in the towns, and considerable prog- 
ress has been made in educational matters. The great body of the peo- 
ple (43,605) are Catholics. Puerto d^Espana, on the north-west side 
of the island, is the capital, and one of the finest towns in the West 
Indies. Trinidad has numerous other good harbors on its west and also 
south coasts, particularly on the former. On the east and north shores 
but few occur, and those indifferent. The island was discovered by 
Columbus in 1498, and taken from the Spaniards by the British in 1797. 

Tobago is situate 24 miles north-east of Trinidad. Its length, north-east 
and south-west, is 32 miles, and its greatest breadth about 12 miles. 
Area 144 square miles. Population 13,208. It is one entire mass of 
rocks, rising with a steep ascent on the north-east, and descending grad- 
ually toward the south-west, with some small but picturesque valleys 
intervening. The greatest height of the rock is 900 feet. The wester;i 
part is the least mountainous, and on the south terminates in broken 
plains and lowlands. The island is well watered by streams and riv- 
ulets rising in the interior and passing through the lowlands to the sea. 
It has several good harbors along the north coast for vessels of 150 tons, 
and a few also on the south coast. The climate is extremely unhealthy. 
The chief and almost exclusive products are sugar, rum, and molasses. 
In 1851 the exports were valued at $254,554, and the imports at 
$1 10,040. Government is administered by a lieutenant-governor, assist- 
ed by a council, both appointed by the crown. The legislature consists 
of the above and a house of assembly of 16 elected members. Revenue 
in 1851, $42,317 ; expenditures, $42,331. Scarloro\ on the south-west 
side of the island, is the seat of government, and the principal shipping 
port. Georgetown^ farther east, is also a port. The island was dis- 
covered by Columbus in 1496, and ceded to Great Britain by France 
in 1763. 

Grenada is situate about 72 miles north of Trinidad. It is of an oblong 
form, and extends north and south 24 miles, with a maximum breadth 
of 10 miles. Area about 125 square miles; but including the Grena- 
dines, several small islands between Grenada and St. Vincent, about 



40 THE WEST INDIES — BRITISH ISLANDS. 

155 square miles. Population 32,671. Grenada is one of the most 
beautiful of the West India Islands. Irregular masses of volcanic 
mountains, in some parts 3,000 feet high, traverse it north and south, 
and from these hills of less height branch off in lateral directions. The 
intervening valleys are well watered by rivulets rising in the mountains. 
The soils are various, but consist principally of a rich black or reddish 
colored mold, well adapted to every tropical production. Cotton was 
formerly the chief article of culture ; but at present sugar, rum, and 
molasses stand first in the exports, which amounted in 1851 to i$646,925. 
The imports for the same year were valued at $762,864. The govern- 
ment consists of a lieutenant-governor and a legislature, consisting of a 
council and a house of assembly. The revenue for 1851 amounted to 
$81,388, and the expenditures to $76,023. St. Georgetown^ in the south- 
west of the island, is the seat of government and centre of trade. On 
the south coast there is good anchorage at Egmont Harbor, and on the 
east at Grenville Bay. Grenada was discovered by Columbus in 1498; 
colonized by the French in the middle of the seventeenth century ; taken 
by the British in 1762; recaptured in 1779, and restored in 1783. 
St. Vincent is situate about 90 miles north of Grenada, and the same dis- 
tance west of Barbadoes, The island is about 18 miles long and 11 
miles wide, with an area of 132 square miles. Population 30,128. 
The central mountains of St. Vincent are bold, sharp, and abrupt in 
their terminations, and are clothed in magnificent forests. The valleys 
between the spurs open on approaching the coast, which is bold and 
rocky. These are well watered and very fertile. On the north-east 
the surface is more level and less broken ; and there is a large tract at 
the base of the Souffriere, an extinct volcano 3,000 feet high, gradually 
declining toward the sea, and which is the most productive land of the 
colony. The climate is remarkably fine. The principal products are 
sugar, rum, and molasses; and in less quantities coffee, cocoa, and cot- 
ton. These, with dyewoods, arrow-root, etc., form the exports, the 
value of which in 1851 was $1,048,896. The imports for the same 
year were valued at $953,664. The government consists of a lieuten- 
ant-governor, a council, and assembly. The revenue of 1851 amounted 
to $78,264, and the expenditures to $77,856. Bequia, and a number 
of other small islands are dependencies of St. Vincent. Kingstown, 
the capital, is situate on a deep bay near the south-west extremity of the 
island, and is a strongly fortified town. The other principal places are 
Calliagua, Georgetown, and Princestown. St. Vincent was discovered 
by Columbus on the 2 2d January, 1498. Since 1719 it had been occu- 



THE WEST INDIES — BRITISH ISLANDS. 41 

pied successively by the French and English ; but in 1783 it was finally 
ceded to the latter nation. 

St. Lucia lies 21 miles north by east from St. Vincent, and 20 miles south 
of Martinique; and is 27 miles in length and 14 miles wide. Area 
296 square miles ; population 24,516. It is evidently of volcanic origin, 
and, with exception of the plains of Gros Islet in the north, and of Vieux- 
Fort in the south, has an elevated, rugged, and mountainous surface. 
Several of the heights have, at no remote period, been volcanoes, and in 
one of them, called Souffriere, volcanic agency is still active. The 
greater part of the island, and especially the more mountainous parts, 
are covered with masses of dense and gloomy forests ; but the valleys 
and lower heights, the soil of which consists of decomposed lava, possess 
almost inexhaustible fertility. This advantage, however, is counter- 
balanced by the general unheal thiness of the climate. The staple pro- 
duct is sugar cane, the cultivation of which is rapidly increasing. The 
exports of sugar amounted in 1847 to 41,850 cwts., in 1849 to 67,405 
cwts., and in 1852 to 73,484 cwts. The exportation of coffee, which in 
1842 amounted to 151,837 lbs., has now nearly ceased. Molasses, rum, 
and cocoa are also important articles of export. In 1851 the total value 
of exports was $235,809, and of imports S290,582. The government is 
administered by a lieutenant-governor and legislative council. The old 
French laws are still in force. Revenue $56,402, and expenditures 
$51,048. Castries^ at the bottom of a fine bay on the north-east side of 
the island, is the capital. The other chief places are — Vieux-Fort, La- 
borie, and Port Souffriere. Pidgeon Island, off" the north-west coast, is 
the seat of a military establishment. St. Lucia was settled by the En- 
glish in 1635, but was subsequently and at various times occupied by 
the French. In 1803 it was finally ceded to Great Britain. 

Barbadoes is the most eastern of the islands. It appears quite detached 
from the Caribbean chain, being 90 miles eastward of St. Vincent, the 
nearest island. Length 15, and breadth 10 miles; area 166 square 
miles. The eastern and northern coasts are belted with coral reefs, 
which prevent, the approach of vessels of more than 50 tons. The open 
coast on the south and west has been strongly fortified. The surface 
of the island is comparatively low, and is diversified by gently undu- 
lating hills. In the north, however, Mt. Hillaby rises to the height of 
1,147 feet. The climate is hot, but not unhealthy. The soils vary 
considerably, but in the lowlands are very rich. The rock that supplies 
this soil is a tertiary shell limestone. There are several bituminous 
springs, some of which furnish a green tar, used as a substitute for pitch 



42 THE WEST INDIES — BRITISH ISLANDS. 

and lamp oil. Destructive hurricanes are frequent. The cultivated 
crops are sugar-cane, cotton, ginger, etc. The sugar crop of 1850 
amounted to 35,076, and of 1851 to 38,730 hogsheads. These, with 
arrow-root, aloes, etc., form the staples of export. In 1851 the value 
of exports was $4,260,609, and of imports $3,791,889. Tonnage in- 
ward 96.381 tons, and outward 93,303; and 34 vessels (1,293 tons) are 
owned in the colony. The "governor of Barbadoes is also superior gov- 
ernor of all the Windward Islands. The legislature comprises the gov- 
ernor, a council, and house of assembly, the latter two elective. Bar- 
badoes is also the see of the Windward diocese. There are in the colony 
11 churches and 34 chapels of the establishment, besides those belonging 
to other denominations. The chief educational establishment is Cod- 
rington College; and in 1850 the various schools were attended by 
8,852 scholars. The public revenue in 1851 amounted to $259,506, and 
the expenditures to $225,888. Bridgetown^ the capital, is situate on 
Carlisle Bay, at the south-west end of the island. This is also the chief 
shipping port. There are three other towns, called Oistin's, St. James', 
and Speight's — the first two are little more than hamlets. Speight's 
Town is a place of considerable importance. The island was settled 
by the English in 1605, and was the first in these parts colonized by that 
nation. It is at the present day the most prosperous and progressive of 
all the British West India colonies. 

Dominica lies between the French islands of Martinique and Guadaloupe, 
and is 28 miles long, with a mean breadth of 10 miles. Area 274 square 
miles ; population 22.061. The existence of pumice, sulphur, etc., attests 
its volcanic origin. Surface mountainous — Morne Diabloten, the highest 
summit, is 5,300 feet above the sea. Valleys fertile, and watered by 
numerous streams. The island contains abundance of timber. Shores 
but little indented, and devoid of harbors. The principal products are 
sugar, molasses, rum, coffee, cocoa, oranges, and cotton. In 1851 the 
value of exports was $300,309, and of imports $344,774. The fisheries 
off the coast are very productive. The government consists of a lieu- 
tenant-governor, council, and assembly of 20 members. Revenue in 1851, 
$61,925, and expenditures $60,587. The principal towns are — Roseau 
or Charlotte Town, the capital, on the south-west side, and Portsmouth^ 
on Prince Rupert's Bay, on the north-west. Dominica was discovered 
in 1493, and was claimed alternately by England, France, and Spain, 
but was finally ceded to Great Britain in 1763. 

MoNTSERRAT, nearly equidistant (30 miles) from Nevis, Antigua, and 
Guadaloupe, is of an oval form, 10 miles long and about 7 miles wide. 



THE WEST INDIES — BRITISH ISLANDS 43 



Area 47 square miles ; population 7,653. The east side of the island is 
mountainous and covered with forests. On the west the land slopes 
down toward the sea. Sugar, rum, and molasses are the chief products 
of cultivation. Cotton, arrow-root, and tamarinds are also among its 
exports. Value of exports in 1851, $84,710, and of imports $45,595. 
Government is administered by a president, council, and house of assem- 
bly. Revenue $16,061, expenditures $14,751. Plymouth^ the capital, 
is on the south-west side of the island. Montserrat was discovered by 
Columbus in 1493, and in 1632 settled by the English. 

Antigua, the chief island of the Leeward group, lies about 48 miles east 
of St. Christopher, and is about 18 miles long and 9 broad. Area 108 
square miles • population 37.757. The shores are high and rocky, and 
indented on all sides by harbors, bays, and creeks, and lined on the north 
and east with a number of small rocky islets. The only elevated land 
is a range of rocky hills, called the Sheckerly Mountains, which nowhere 
exceed 1,500 feet in height. There are no rivers on the island^ and its 
springs are brackish. The principal exportable products are sugar, rum, 
molasses, rice, arrow-root, and tobacco. In 1847 the exports were val- 
ued at $1,774,034, and in 1851 at $277,070, and the imports of the 
respective years at $1,046,390 and $785,390. The falling off in the ex- 
ports is attributed to severe drouth. Government is vested in a gov- 
ernor, council, and assembly. The governor is also governor-in-chief 
of the Leeward Islands. Revenue in 1851, $103,987, expenditures 
$99,086. The diocese of Antigua also includes all the Leeward Islands. 
St. John, the capital, is built on the north-west side of the island, and 
at the bottom of the bay of the same name, which forms an excellent 
harbor. English Harbor, on the south side, has a government dock-yard, 
and is capable of receiving the largest ships. Antigua was discovered 
by Columbus in 1493, and settled by the English in 1632. The island 
has suffered severely from earthquakes and hurricanes. 

St. Christopher, to the west of Antigua, lies north-west and south-east, 
17 miles in length and 6 miles broad, and is separated from Nevis by a 
strait only a mile and a half wide. Area 68 square miles ; population 
23,177. The centre of the island is occupied by rugged, barren mount- 
ains, which contain some hot springs. The highest point, called Mount 
Misery, 3,711 feet above the sea, is an exhausted volcano, the crater of 
which is still apparent. The soil of the plain is chiefly a dark-gray 
loam. Sugar is the principal object of cultivation, and of this the crop 
in 1851 amounted to 7, 270. hogsheads. Rum and molasses are also ex- 
ported. The value of exports in 1851 amounted to $541,191, and of 



44 THE WEST INDIES — BRITISH ISLANDS. 

imports to $510,144. The island is governed by a lieutenant-governor, 
and sends 10 members to the Anfigua assembly. The revenue in 1851 
amounted to $94,392, and the expenditures to $70,426. Basseterre^ the 
capital, is situate on the south-side of the island. St. Christopher was 
discovered by Columbus in 1493, and settled by the English in 1623. In 
1782, and again in 1805, it was taken by the French, but not retained. 

Nevis, off the south-east extremity of St. Christopher, consists almost en- 
tirely of a single conical mountain of volcanic origin, rising with a gentle 
ascent from the sea to a height of 2,500 feet, and surrounded at the base 
by a level border of extremely fertile land. Area 21 square miles ; pop- 
ulation 9,601. Only about one-fourth the surface is capable of cultiva- 
tion, the high parts being rocky and barren. The exportable products 
are sugar, rum, and molasses. Exports in 1851, $112,656, and imports 
$79,094. The island is governed by an administrative council and as- 
sembly. Revenue in 1850, $23,821. Charlestown is the capital, Nevis 
was firgj; colonized by the English, in 1628. 

Barbuda, 27 miles north of Antigua, is a low, level, and fertile island. It 
is the private property of the Codrington family, and the only proprietary 
government in the West Indies. The inhabitants, chiefly colored, are 
employed in breeding stock and the cultivation of corn, cotton, pepper, 
indigo, and tobacco. No sugar is grown. The air is so mild and pure 
that invalids from other islands resort here for the restoration of health. 

Anguilla is the most northern of the Leeward Islands, and distant about 
five miles from St. Martin's. It is 16 miles long and 4 broad, but so 
low and flat that it can not be seen at a great distance. Area 34 square 
miles; population 3,052. The soil is calcareous and not very produc- 
tive. In the centre of the island is a saline lake, which yields a large 
quantity of salt. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in cattle-breeding 
and salt-raking, and also cultivate small quantities of sugar, cotton, and 
tobacco. The island is governed by a magistrate elected by the colo- 
nists, but subject to the approval of the governor of Antigua. The town 
is situate on the east side and near the north-east end of the island ; it 
is a small place, with little trade. Anguilla was settled by the English 
in 1659. Anguilleta, Dog, and other islets, lie off the coast. 

Virgin Islands are a group east of Porto Rico, and are severally in the 
possession of Spain, Great Britain, and Denmark. The islands belong- 
ing to the British are Tortola, Virgin Gorda or Penniston, Jos Van Dykes, 
Guana, Beef, Thatch. Anegada, Nichar, Prickly Pear, Camanas, Gin- 
ger, Cooper's, Salt, St. Peter, etc. Area 92 square miles; population 
6,689. Throughout these islands a series of precipitous and rugged 



THE WEST INDIES — FRENCH ISLANDS. 46 

mountains and rocks run east and west ; and the shores are indented 
with bays, harbors, and creeks. The principal products are cotton, sugar, 
molasses, rum, "etc. In 1851 the exports were valued at $13,701, and 
the imports at $23,742. The affairs of the island are administered by a 
lieutenant-governor with a council and assembly. Tortola^ on the island 
of the same name, is the capital, and has a magnificent harbor, perfectly 
land-locked, which in time of war has sheltered 400 vessels waiting for 
convoy. The Virgins were discovered by Columbus in 1493 ; settled by 
the Datch in 1648, and captured by the English in 1666. 



THE FRENCH ISLANDS. 
The French West Indies are comprised in the governments of Guada- 
loupe and Martinique. Area 1,013 square miles. Population 276,453. 

THE GUADALOUPE GOVERNMENT. 

GuADALoupE comprises the island so called, the islands of Marie-Galante, 
Desirade, and Les Saintes, and about two-thirds of the island of St. Martin. 

Islands. Area, sq. m. Popula. ("1849). Pop. to aq. in. Chief Places. Popula. 

Guadaloupe 529 134,574 254.4 B asse-Tekre 3,876 

Marie-Galante 59 12,749 216.1 Grandbourg 1,200 

Desirade 17 2,56S 151.0 Anse-Galet 400 



Popula. ri849). 


Pop. to aq. in 


134,574 


254.4 


12,749 


216.1 


2,56S 


151.0 


1,311 


262.5 


3,773 


179.7 



Les Saintes 5 

St. Martiu (N. part) 21 3,773 179.7 Marigot. 

Total 631 154,975 245.6 

— of the population about three-fourths the whole are Africans and their 
descendants, and the remainder French, Creoles, and mixed races. 

Guadaloupe^ the largest of the islands, is composed of two divisions or 
islands, separated by a strait called Riviere Salee (Salt River), about 
5 miles long and from 30 to 100 yards broad, sufficiently deep for vessels 
of 60 tons. It is situate in lat. 16° north, and long. 61° 30^ west. The 
west or larger island is Guadaloupe Proper, divided into Basse-Terre 
and Cabes-Terre, and is 27 miles long by 15 miles wide. The eastern 
island, called Grande-Terre, is nearly 30 miles long by 10 to 12 broad. 
Guadaloupe Proper is of volcanic formation, and is traversed north and 
south by a ridge of hills having a medium height of 2,296 feet; and 
with the culminating points in La Souffriere, an active volcano 5,108 
feet high, and in Grosse-Montagne, Deux-Mamelles, and Piton de Bouil- 
lante, extinct volcanoes. Grande-Terre, on the other hand, is generally 
flat, composed of madrepores and marine detritus, and nowhere rises 
higher than 115 feet above the sea. Guadaloupe has numerous small 



46 THE WEST INDIES— FRENCH ISLANDS 

streams, running in deeply-cut beds, but becoming dry in summer. The 
principal are the Goyaves, Lamentin, and Lezarde, which are navigable 
for canoes. Grande-Terre has only a few springs of brackish, undrink- 
able water. The climate is hot and unhealthy, and the atmosphere re- 
markably humid. Hurricanes are frequent and destructive. The soil 
is fertile and well-cultivated. The mountains are covered with fine 
forests, and the marshy coast of Basse-Terre with mangroves and man- 
chineel trees. The products natural and cultivated are similar to those 
of the West Indies generally; but in regard to sugar, the Tahiti cane 
is the only kind cultivated. The principal anchorages of Guadaloupe- 
are — the Bay of Mahault and the roads of Basse-Terre — the latter in 
the south-west, with the town of the same name, capital of the govern- 
ment, on its shore. Villages are found at short distances along the 
whole coast. Grande-Terre possesses the anchorages of Moule and 
Point-a-Pitre. The latter, at the south entrance to the Salt River, is 
esteemed one of the best in the Antilles, and on it was situate the im- 
portant town of St. Louis or Point-a-Pitre, which was destroyed by an 
earthquake on the 8th February, 1843, on which occasion 4,000 of the 
inhabitants perished. 

Marie- Galante, 14 miles south-south-east of Guadaloupe, is about 12 
miles long by 8 miles broad, and is traversed north and south by a range 
of hills parallel to the east coast, where it presents a front of high and 
precipitous rocks. The west and north sides of the island are level, and 
parallel with the former is a narrow lagoon 7 or 8 miles in length, sep- 
arated from the sea by a low, narrow tract of sand. The island abounds 
in woods, particularly the wild cinnamon tree. Its principal town, 
Grandbourg or Basse-Terre, stands near the south-west point; other 
towns are Les Carmes on the west, and St. Anne on the east shores. 

Desirade or Deseada lies about four miles east from the south-east 
extremity of Grande-Terre, and is about 8 miles long by 3 miles wide. 
It rises from the sea with a steep ascent, and then extends in a table- 
land, which consists of limestone rocks, in which many caverns occur ; 
but it is without water. The soil in some places is a deep black mold, 
and fertile — in others it is sandy and unproductive. The only anchor- 
age is at the Anse-Galet, on the east side of the island. 

Les Saintes are a group of rocky islets, 6 or 7 miles south of Guada- 
loupe, and consist of lofty and steep peaks, some of which are united 
by flat ground and ridges of inferior elevation ; others are separated by 
the sea. The two largest are called Terre d'en Haut and Terre d'en Bas, 
or the upper and lower land — the first is about four miles in circuit, 



THE WEST INDIES — FRENCH ISLANDS, 47 

and contains a town or village on its west side. The inhabitants are 
poor, and live chiefly on fish and vegetables. 

St. Martin^ the northern portion of which belongs to the French, 
and forms a dependency of Guadaloupe, is a small island immediately 
south of the British island of Anguilla, in lat. 18° 5^ north, and long. 
630 6^ west. The southern portion is held by the Dutch. Its form is 
nearly that of an equilateral triangle — each side about seven miles in 
length. Area 33 square miles. It is deeply indented with bays and 
lagoons, some of which afford good anchorage ; and is upon the whole 
hilly, the highest part being 1,361 feet above the sea. It is watered by 
several rivulets ; and in the south are lagoons from which great quan- 
tities of salt are obtained by the Dutch. The climate is remarkably 
mild and is considered healthy. 

The chief cultivated products are sugar, rum, molasses, coffee, and 
other West India staples. The sugar crop of Guadaloupe amounts to 
about 60,000 hogsheads annually. The exports for the year ending 31st 
December, 1851, consisted of — muscovado sugar, 20,048,368 kilogram- 
mes ; coffee, 221.218 do.; cotton, 20,443 do. ; cocoa, 11,425 do. ; cassia, 
165 do.; molasses, 13,879 litres; and rum, 142,139 litres, etc. The 
trade is chiefly with France. The products and commerce of the de- 
pendent islands are similar, but on a smaller scale. A considerable 
quantity of fish is taken in the neighboring seas. 

For administrative purposes Guadaloupe and its dependencies are 
divided into three arrondissements, and these again into cantons and com- 
munes. The government consists of a governor, assisted by a privy 
council of six members, and a colonial council of 30 members, the latter 
elected by the landowners and tax-payers. Justice is administered by a 
superior court and two courts of assize. The colonial council elects two 
delegates to represent the people in the home colonial council. Local 
affairs are administered by municipal councils. 

Guadaloupe was discovered by Columbus in 1493. In 1635 the 
French settled upon the island and kept it until 1759, when it was taken 
by the English. It was subsequently and at various times captured and 
recaptured by these nations, and finally ceded to France in 1814. Its 
immediate dependencies of course shared the fate of the central island. 
The island of St. Martin was settled by the French and Dutch in 1638 ; 
but these were expelled by the Spaniards, who themselves abandoned 
the island in 1750; and the original settlers resumed possession. 



48 THE WEST INDIES — FRENC H ISLANDS. 



THE MARTINIQUE GOVERNMENT. 

Martinique, the government of which covers the island of the same name, 
lies in lat 14° 45^ north, and long. 61° 10^ west, and about 20 miles 
north of St. Lucia. It is of irregular form, high and rocky, about 45 
miles long and from 10 to 15 miles wide. Area 382 square miles. 
There are six extinct volcanoes on the island, and one of the craters is 
of large dimensions. The loftiest summit, Mont Pelee, is 4.450 feet 
above the sea. Extensive masses of volcanic rocks cover the interior, 
rise to a great elevation, and extend from the mountains to the shores, 
where they form numerous deep indentations along the coast. Between 
the volcanic rocks broad, irregular valleys of great fertility occur. Those 
on the west side, called Basse-Terre, are more extensive, fertile, and 
level than those on the east side, called Cabes-Terre. The climate is 
hot, but not unhealthy, being tempered by regular breezes. Hurricanes 
and earthquakes are not unfrequent. About two-fifths of the surface are 
under cultivation, the remainder being covered with trees or occupied 
by naked rocks or disintegrated pumice. The mountain slopes are for 
the most part covered with primeval forests, in other parts the slopes 
are cultivated to the height of 400 feet. Numerous streams flow down 
from the height, most of them mere rivulets ; but a few of them are 
navigable for boats a short distance from their mouths, and are used for 
the conveyance of produce to the shipping. For administrative purposes 
the island is divided into two arrondissements, 14 cantons, and 26 com- 
munes. Government is conducted by a governor and privy council of 7 
members; and the colonial council consists of 30 members. The popu- 
lation in 1849 numbe'red 121,478 souls. The principal productions are 
sugar, coffee, cocoa, etc. The exports for the year ending 31st Decem- 
ber, 1851, consisted of — sugar, muscovado, 23,406,696, and clayed, 809 
kilogrammes; coffee, 110,933 do.; cocoa, 149,033 do.; cassia, 163,580 
do.; logwood, 50,200 do.; molasses, 33,754 litres; and rum, 2,064,511 
litres. The island has several good harbors, the best of which is Port 
Royal, on the south-west side. The principal town is St. Pierre, on the 
north-west ; and there are villages on every part of the coasts. The 
island was discovered by Columbus in 1493, and in 1635 was settled 
by the French, In 1794 it was captured by the English, and restored 
in 1802; and was subsequently, between 1809 and 1814, held by the 
English, who at the close of the war again released it to France. 



THE WEST INDIES — DUTCH ISLANDS, 



49 



THE DUTCH ISLANDS. 

The colonial possessions of the Netherlands in the West Indies comprise 
the islands of Cura9oa, Bonaire, Aruba, etc., lying off the coast of Ven- 
ezuela, and St. Eustatius and Saba, and part of the island of St. Martin, 
among the Leeward Islands. These are as follows : 

, ^Population. > Pop. to 

Islands. Area, eq. m. Free. Slave. Total. sq. m. Chief Places. 

Cura^oa 138 11,225 5,573 16,798 121.7 Wilhelmstadt. 

Bonaire 83 1,478 742 2,220 26.7 Village in S. W. side. 

Aruba 23 2,443 602 3,045 132.4 Fort Zoutman. 

St. Eustatius 97 782 1,150 1,932 19.9 St. Eustatius. 

Saba 16 ' 1,014 649 1,663 103.9 Landing on south side. 

St. Martin (S. part) 12 1,227 1,612 2,839 236.6 

Total 369 18,169 10,328 28,497 77.2 

— of the total population 8,595 are Protestants, 19,072 Roman Catholics, 
and 837 Jews; the Roman Catholics preponderate in Cura9oa, Bonaire, 
and Aruba, and the Protestants in St. Eustatius, Saba, and St. Martin. 
The Jews are almost exclusively (829) found in Curapoa. 

ISLANDS OFF THE VENEZUELAN COAST. 

Curacoa is situate 46 miles north of the coast of Venezuela, and in lat. 
120 15^ north, and long. 69° west. It is about 30 miles long by 6 miles 
broad, rising wild, bare, and abrupt, and consists of two ridges of green- 
stone, connected by a limestone dyke a mile and a half thick. Iron and 
copper occur, but are not wrought. Both the atmosphere and soil are 
dry, but the heat tempered by the sea-breeze. Indigo, cotton, and cocoa, 
once cultivated, are now abandoned ; and the people depend either on the 
rearing of cattle and other stock, or on the salt which is produced here 
in great abundance. Small quantities of sugar and tobacco are also pro- 
duced. The opuntia, among other cacti, grows <m the island and feeds 
the cochineal insect, to which increasing attention is paid. Many fruits 
are cultivated — tamarinds, bananas, oranges, and the lime ; from the 
last named the famed Curacoa liqueur is made. The shores teem with 
magnificent lobsters, crabs, and shell-fish ; and the seas furnish plenty 
of excellent fish. Sea and land turtle abound. Salt, however, is the 
great staple, and of this about 250,000 barrels are exported annually. 
In 1851 the number of vessels entered was 605, the cargoes of which 
were valued at between 2,000,000 and 2,500,000 florins. The principal 
harbor, Santa Anna, is on the south-west side of the island. The en- 
trance is very narrow — on the eastern side of it is Fort Amsterdam, and 
on the opposite side of the harbor is the town of Curacoa or Wilhelm- 



50 THE WEST INDIES — DUTCH ISLANDS. 

stadt, said to be one of the handsomest in the West Indies. Curacoa 
was settled by the Spaniards early in the sixteenth century. It was 
captured in 1632 by the Dutch, and in 1798 by the English. The peace 
of Amiens restored it to the Dutch. The British again took it in 1806, 
and finally ceded it to the Netherlands in 1814. 

Bonaire (Buen-Ayre), 27 miles north-east of Cura9oa, is about 18 
miles long and from 4 to 5 broad. It is of very irregular shape, high, 
and hilly, chiefly composed of calcareous deposits, but in some places of 
pure quartz, and is thickly wooded. The soil is hard and dry, sufiering 
from deficiency of rain, yet not without excellent pastures. On the south 
coast the land is covered with low knolls clothed with verdant creepers 
and cacti, which yield considerable cochineal. The hillsides are cov- 
ered with forests of Brazil and yellow- wood, but there are no fruit-bear- 
ing trees. Large quantities of salt are produced. The roadstead is on 
the south-west side. In 1851 the number of vessels entered was 265 (160 
in ballast), and there was exported 68,449 barrels of salt. The island is 
chiefly used as a penal depot by the Dutch West India authorities. 

Aruha (Oruba), 50 miles west by north of Curacoa is about 8 miles 
long and 2 miles broad, and is surrounded by rocks, and difficult of ap- 
proach. The surface is generally stony, though in some parts flat and 
sandy, and notwithstanding the want of water there are some good mead- 
ows. Excellent iron ore and a little gold are found ; but the chief occupa- 
tion is cattle raising. In 1851 the trade of the island occupied 65 vessels. 

Curacoa Chica^ the Bird Islands, etc., also belong to the Dutch, but 
are not inhabited. The latter is a small group south-east of Bonaire. 

ISLANDS OF THE LEEWAKD aROUP. 

St. Eustatius is situate 11 miles north-west of St. Christopher, in lat. 
170 32^ north, and long. 63° 5^ west, and is scarcely 30 miles in circum- 
ference. There are two hills — Punch Bowl Hill and Signal Hill, the 
latter an extinct volcano; between is a deep valley, forming the interior 
of the island. The level parts are covered with cane fields and provis- 
ion grounds. Game is plentiful, and is exported to other islands. The 
commerce of the island, which was formerly large, is now almost extinct, 
and its population, which in 1780 numbered 25.000, is reduced to a few 
hundreds. The town, divided into the upper and lower town, lies on a 
level piece of ground on the south-west side of the island. The road- 
stead is open and unprotected, but has good anchorage in certain winds. 

Saha lies about 15 miles west-north-west from the north point of St. 
Eustatius. It rises abruptly from the sea, and is inaccessible except 



THE WEST INDIES — DANISH ISLANDS. 51 

upon the south side, where are a little creek and landing-place. The 
island is inhabited by a few Dutch families, who cultivate the cotton 
plant and manufacture stockings, shoes, etc. 

St. Martin^ of which the Dutch possess the southern portion, has 
been already described. In 1851 salt to the amount of 148,525 barrels 
was obtained, and the arrivals and clearances amounted to 334 vessels. 

These six islands and their dependencies form a single government, 
the seat of which is Wilhelmstadt, on the island of Cura9oa, The ad- 
ministration of affairs is vested in a governor- general and a colonial coun- 
cil. The president and vice-president of the council are chosen by the 
governor. The receipts and expenditures in 1851 were as follows : 

Curacoa, Bonaire, St. Martin 

Aruba, etc. St. Eustatius. and Saba. Total. 

Eeceipts 198,944 florins 6,321 florins 35,225 florins 240,490 florins. 

Expenditures 398,625 " .... 28,144 " .... 40,294 « .... 467,073 " 

— the deficiencies being made up by the home government. The mili- 
tary garrisons collectively at the close of 1850 consisted of 14 officers, 
and 408 soldiers. St. Martin had also a squadron of citizen cavalry. 



THE DANISH ISLANDS. 

The West India possessions of Denmark — St. Thomas, Santa Cruz, and St. 
John, with their dependencies, belong to the Virgin group, and lie cen- 
trally in lat. 18° north, and long. 64° 30^ west. The extent, population, 
etc., of these are as follows : 

Islands. Area, sq. m. Popula. (1850). Pop. sq. m. Chief Towns. Popnla. 

St. Thomas 27 13,666 506.2 Charlotte-Amalia .... 12,883 

Santa Cruz 78 23,729 304.2 Cheistianstadt 6,127 

St. John (Jan) 22 2,228 101.3 Christiansborg 136 

Total 127 39,623 812.0 

— in St. Thomas about a third and in Santa Cruz and St. John about 
three-fourths of the inhabitants are blacks. 

St. Thomas lies about 38 miles east of Porto Rico, and in lat. 18° 20^ 
north, and long. 64° 55^ west. The greatest length, east and west, is 
12 miles, and the average breadth less than 3 miles. It has a rugged 
and elevated surface, which attains its greatest height toward the centre, 
and descends sometimes gradually, but oftener abruptly to the shore. It 
was once well-wooded, but is now almost bare, and from this cause 
suffers much from a deficiency of rain ; nor is its soil fertile. The area 
under crop is only about 2,500 acres, of which nearly one-half are plant- 
ed with sugar-cane. A large number of islets and keys lie around its 
shores. The island enjoys the privileges of a free harbor, and its trade 
is consequently very extensive. The harbor and town ( Charlotte- Ama- 



52 THE WEST INDIES — DANISH ISLANDS. 

lia) lie about midway of the island, on the south side. The anchorage 
is very extensive and secure, and the opening seaward is only 1,030 yards 
wide. The town lies around the north side of the harbor, and contains 
many substantial stores and dwellings. Here centres a large trade fos- 
tered by the freedom of the port. At present the value of goods import- 
ed into St. Thomas may be set down at $5,000,000 ; probably half of 
which are brought from England, a fifth from the United States and 
British America, and the rest from France, Hamburg, Altona, Flensborg, 
Bremen, Holland, etc. It is estimated that two-fifths of these imports 
are sent to Porto Rico, and the remaining three-fifths to Santo Domingo, 
Cuba, Venezuela, New Granada, Curapoa, and the Windward Islands. 
In 1850 there arrived 2,196 vessels (235,843 tons) : this does not include 
the British mail steamers, the tonnage of which entering amounts to 
about 42,000 tons annually. St. Thomas was settled by the Danish 
West India and Guinea Company in 1671. In 1775 the Company's 
rights were conveyed to the king, who in 1764 threw open the port to 
vessels of all nations. This policy, and the general neutrality observed 
by Denmark in the wars of Europe, concurred in fostering its commerce, 
although much is due to its admirable geographical position ] and accord- 
ingly it became a chief market, and in time of war the only channel 
through which the products of all the West India colonies could be safely 
conveyed. A short interruption to its prosperity occurred in 1801, when 
the island was given up to the British, who held it however for only 
10 months. Early in 1802 it was restored to Denmark, and resumed 
all its former activity. In 1804 and again in 1806 immense losses in 
merchandise and other property were occasioned by fires in the town. 
In 1807 St. Thomas was again, by capitulation, transferred to Great 
Britain, and retained until April, 1815, when the Danes once more 
became masters of the island. 

Santa Cruz is the largest and most southern of the Virgin group, and 
lies about 65 miles east-south-east from Porto Rico, in lat. 17° 42^ north, 
and long. 64° 48'' west. The island has its greatest length east and 
west, about 20 miles, and varies in breadth from 2 to 6 miles. It is gen- 
erally flat, though a range of low heights follows the line of the north 
shore, and is well watered and fertile. The climate is at all times un- 
healthy; and hurricanes and earthquakes are frequent. About two- 
fifths of the island are in sugar-cane plantations, and about one-half is 
occupied with general crops, only a small portion remaining uncultivated. 
The soil is not very rich, but tolerably fertile, yet owing to droughts the 
crops are uncertain. On this account the sugar crop varies from 12,000 



THE WEST INDIES — DANISH ISLANDS. 53 



to 40,000 hogsheads. The cultivation of coifee, indigo, and cotton has 
been generally abandoned for many years. Christianstadt and Frede- 
richstadt are the principal towns — the first on the north and the latter on 
the west of the island. Christianstadt is the capital and residence of the 
governor-general. Its harbor is encumbered with many shoals, and dif- 
ficult of access. On the whole the island is far less eligible for com- 
merce than St. Thomas, but in resources more important. Santa Cruz 
was discovered by Columbus on his second voyage. In 1643 the Dutch 
made a settlement on it, but three years later were expelled by the 
English. In 1650 the English were in their turn dislodged by the 
Spaniards, who laid the island waste. In 1651 it was purchased for 
the Knights of Malta, who sold it in 1664 to the French West India 
Company, and in 1696 the Company's claims were sold to the Danes. 
From this period it followed the fortunes of St. Thomas. 

St. John or St. Jan is situate about 24 miles east from St. Thomas, in 
lafc. ISO 18^ north, and long. 64° 49^ west. It is about 12 miles long by 
4 miles broad, rising to a considerable height in the centre, and having 
generally a very broken, uneven surface. The soil is indifferent, and 
water scarce ', sugar and cotton are produced in small quantities, and 
live-stock is also reared. On the south-east side a promontory forms 
two coves, which are defended by a fort on the north point of the en- 
trance, and another on Duck Island, close to the south point. This 
promontory has a town called Christiansborg or the castle. The anchor- 
age is good. St. John in its history is intimately connected with ot. 
Thomas, and has generally belonged to the same masters. 

These three islands, St. Thomas, Santa Cruz, and St. John, with their 
dependencies, form together a single general government, and are gov- 
erned as crown colonies by an appointee of the king of Denmark, who 
resides at Christianstadt, on the island of Santa Cruz. The governor is 
assisted by two councilors ; and in each island there is a burgher coun- 
cil, which has cognizance over all purely municipal affairs. Justice is 
administered according to the code of Charles V., together with the 
rescripts of the crown, which constitute the law. The general revenue 
for the year ending 31st March, 1851, amounted to $286,782 ; that of 
Santa Cruz to $168,950, and that of St. Thomas and St. John to 
$117,832. The aggregate expenditures for the three islands amounted 
to $335,444. The municipal revenues are separate, and are adminis- 
tered by the councils. The king derives a revenue, which does not 
appear in the above summary, from the large number of the estates 
which he holds in the islands. 



54 



THE WEST INDIES — GENERAL STATISTICS. 



THE SWEDISH ISLAND. 

The only colonial possession of Sweden in the West Indies is the island of 
St. Bartholomew. This island belongs to the Leeward group, and is 
situate centrally in lat. 17° 50^ north, and long. 62° 52^ west, distant 
12 miles from St. Martin and about 30 from St. Christopher. It is about 
8 miles long by from 2 to 3 miles wide, and contains an area of 25 square 
miles. St. Bartholomew is of an irregular shape, and deeply indented 
by numerous small sandy bays, separated by bold and steep rocky accliv- 
ities of moderate height. In the interior it is hilly, but its loftiest ele- 
vations nowhere exceed 1,000 feet above the sea. In most parts it is 
barren, but has numerous well-cultivated valleys. The population is 
estimated at about 8,000 or 9,000, of which about 7,000 are blacks and 
colored persons. Of the whites, nearly one-half are of Irish descent, and 
the remainder chi6fiy of French extraction. The affairs of the island 
are administered by a royal governor. The only harbor is La Carenage, 
a safe and commodious one, and much frequented. It is on the west 
side of the island. Close by it is Gustavia, the principal town, a thriv- 
ing place, and having considerable commerce with the neighboring 
islands. St. Bartholomew was first settled in 1648 by the French. In 
1689 it was taken by the English under Admiral Thornhill; but in 
1697 was restored to France. In 1746 it was again taken by the En- 
glish, and was once more given up under the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. 
In 1785 it was finally ceded by France to Sweden, and has since con- 
tinued subject to that power. 



GENERAL STATISTICS OF THE WEST INDIES. 

states and Colonies. Area, sq. m. Popula. Pop. to sq. m. Capitals. 

Dominican Eepublic 17,609 136.500 7.7 Santo Domingo. 

Hayti, Empire of 10,081 572.000 56.7 Cape Haytian. 

Spanish Colonies 51,143 1,462,060 27.6 Habana. 

British Colonies 15,759 835.344 53.2 Spanish Town. 

French Colonies 1,013 276.453 276.3 Port Royal. 

Dutch Colonies 869 28.497 77.2 Wilhelmstadt. 

Danish Colonies 127 39.623 812.0 Christ! anstadt. 

Swedish Colonies 25 9,000 860.0 Gustavia. 

Total 96,126 3,859,477 84.9 

— from the above account are omitted all the islands belonging to the 
neighboring states, and a large number of islands, etc., not inhabited. 
With these it is assumed that the aggregate area of the West Indies 
would amount to 150^000 square miles, and the population to 3,500,000. 



THE BERMUDAS OR SOMERS' ISLANDS. 



The Bermudas, a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, 580 miles south- 
east of Cape Hatteras, in North Carolina, and between latitudes 32° 14^ 
and 320 25^ north, and longitudes 64o 38^ and 64° 52^ west from Green- 
wich, or 12° 10^ and 12° 24^ east from Washington, constitute an im- 
portant colony and naval station of Great Britain. They lie south-west 
to north-east, based on the edge of a bank stretching in the same direc- 
tion 23 by 13 miles, but occupy only a space of about 18 by 6 miles, 
though said to be about 365 in number. Area 19.4 square miles. 

General Description. — Viewed from the sea, the Bermudas appear to 
have but a trifling elevation compared with the bold and lofty aspect of 
many of the West India Islands. The highest land, indeed, does not ex- 
ceed 200 feet above the sea-level, and the surface is very irregular. 
The principal islands (St. George's, Ireland, St. David's, Somerset, Paget, 
Longbird, and Smith's), together with the minor islands, lie in such a 
manner as to form several capacious and deep bays, which, however, 
are difficult of ingress or egress. The island of St. George's, the mili- 
tary station of the colony, about three miles long and at no part exceed- 
ing half a mile wide, lies at the entrance of the only passage for ships 
of burden. The harbor, the entrance to which is narrow, is said to 
be one of the finest in the world, and is completely land-locked. The 
naval dock-yard is situated at the west end of Ireland Island, and distant 
about 15 miles from St. George's. This island is about one mile in 
length, and perhaps a quarter broad, and is nearly all occupied by the 
public buildings. Boaz Island, connected with this by a bridge com- 
pleted in 1849, is the site of the convict establishment. These islands 
are all strongly fortified, and where not, the reefs and rocks that lie in 
their neighborhood certainly do away with the necessity of artificial 
works. The Bermudas are, in fact, the Gibraltar of the West Indies. 
On three sides, north, west, and south, they are inclosed by formidable 
coral reefs and rocks, nearly all under water, and extending in some 
parts 10 miles from the islands — the only reefs of this description occur- 
ring in the whole expanse of the ocean. 

Climate, Soil, etc. — The climate of these islands is delightful, a perpet- 
ual spring clothing the fields and trees in perpetual verdure. Severe 
+hunder-storms, however, frequently occur ] and when the south wind 



56 THE BERMUDAS OR SOMERS' ISLANDS. 

prevails, the atmosphere becomes charged with excessive humidity. The 
soil is generally of a reddish brown color, and in some places, as at 
Ireland Island, bearing strong marks of oxide of iron. Round the coasts 
there are some districts with a strong tenacious blue clay ; in others a 
micaceous kneadable brick earth, and again an argillaceous soil with 
luxuriant pasturage. The cedar grows to a great height, and would 
seem in many parts to spring from the bare rock. The palmetto is also 
indigenous; and all the fruits and vegetables of the tropics thrive well. 
Civil Divisions, etc, — The Bermudas are divided into nine parishes, the 
extent and population of which are as follows : 

Area, , Population. v 

Parishes. acres. 1826. 1836. 1S43. 1851. 

St. George's 1,580 1,101 1,478 1,607 1,891 

Hamilton 1.651 751 855 991 1.094 

Smith's i;281 434 459 442 514 

Devonshire 1,281 594.. 622 729 784 

Pembroke 1,281 1,656 1,691 2,079 2,235 

Paget's 1,281 950 789 857.! 1,088 

Warwick 1,281 932 944. A 895 983 

Southampton..., 1.281 812 768 888 917 

Sandys 1,507 1,221 1,261 1,482 1,636 



Total , 12,424 8,470 8,S62 9,930 11,092 

— of the population of 1851, the whites numbered 4,669 — 1,965 males, 
and 2,704 females: and the colored 6,423—2,832 males, and 3,591 fe- 
males. Neither the military nor the convicts are included. 
Industry. — The labor of the inhabitants is employed chiefly in agricul- 
ture, commerce, and the fisheries. The agricultural crops in 1850 con- 
sisted of — sweet potatoes, 24,322 bushels; Irish potatoes, 24,94 6 bushels; 
carrots, 4,346 bushels; turnips, 7,420 bushels; onions, 838,070 pounds; 
garden vegetables, 256,136 pounds; tomatoes, 19,120 pounds; arrow- 
root, 854,329 pounds; Indian corn, 924 bushels; rnd barley, 269 bush- 
els, etc. The quantity of live-stock maintained is small, and dairy pro- 
duce sufficient only for the wants of the inhabitants. In 1851 the colony 
contained 259 horses, 5 mules, 31 asses, 1,643 horned cattle, and 227 
sheep. Domestic fowls are abundant, especially ducks; and during the 
summer numbers of turtle are taken. The adjoining seas are stored with 
various kinds of fish ; and whales are occasionally taken between March 
and June. Many small cedar vessels are built here; and another 
important branch of industry is the plaiting of straw and mid-rib of the 
palmetto. The principal articles of export are arrow-root, potatoes, and 
onions. The value of imports for the year ending 5th January, 1851, 
was $626,400, and of exports $95,808. The colony owned 42 vessels, 
having a burden of 2,952 tons. The imports are chiefly supplies for the 
army and naval forces stationed here, and for the convict establishment 



• THE BERMUDAS OR SOMERS' ISLANDS. 57 

on Boaz Island. Pbegular steam navigation is kept up between the Ber- 
mudas, Halifax, N. S., New York, and the West Indies. 

Government, Education, etc. — The Legislature consists of a governor, 
council, and assembly. The Council is composed of eight members and 
a president, nominated by the governor; and the House of Assembly of 
36 members, returned by the nine tribes or parishes into which the island 
is divided. The revenue for 1850 amounted to $60,624, and the ex- 
penditures to $77,889; a parliamentary grant of $19,435, more than 
covering the deficit. The military expenditure was $336,768. The 
islands contain 9 churches, and 5 chapels for dissenters ; and with regard 
to the inhabitants, 9,332 are members of the Church of England, 519 
Presbyterians, 1,018 Wesleyan Methodists, 109 Roman Catholics, and 
113 other religions. There are 24 public or free schools, principally 
supported by different societies in England and by funds under the con- 
trol of the bishop of Nova Scotia, in whose diocese the Bermudas are in- 
cluded ; and besides these there are 25 private schools. The number of 
convicts at the depots in 1850 was 1,566, and the cost of their main- 
tenance for the year $166,056. 

Public Works. — A small dock-yard, formerly maintained at St. George's, 
has been removed to Ireland Island, on which large sums have been ex- 
pended in order to render it a strong post for a naval and military depdt. 
Between 1838 and 1848 there was spent in the public works upward of 
$1,440,000, of which $753,600 was for a breakwater. The works in- 
clude a steam-factory, a victualing office, store-houses, hospitals, work- 
men's dwellings, etc. Besides those named, defensive works have been 
constructed on St. George's, Main, Boaz, and Ireland islands, the cost of 
which has been upward of $720,000 ; and a causeway, constructed by 
convict labor, has been built to connect Walsingham and Longbird 
islands. The ship channels have also been improved. 

Towns. — There are in the Bermudas two towns, each of which has its 
mayor and civic officers — St. George's, on the island of that name, and 
Hamilton, on Bermuda Island. Both towns are well-built, of white stone. 
St. George's^ which is the capital, is the liner of the two, and contains 
a new government-house, jail, lunatic asylum, etc. There are also sev- 
eral settlements or villages. 

History. — In 1593 there was wrecked on these islands a French ship, on 
board of which was one Henry May, who afterward wrote an account of 
the Bermudas in English. In 1609 Sir George Somers was driven on 
the islands in the course of a voyage to Virginia ; and on this account 
the Virginia Company claimed them, and sold their right to a company of 



58 BELIZE OR BRITISH HONDURAS. 

120 persons, who. having obtained a charter from the king in 1612, sent 
out 60 settlers with a governor. The colony settled on George's Island. 
In 1619, the islands having become famous for their beauty and salu- 
brity, many of the nobility purchased plantations, and their cultivation 
was much encouraged. The number of white inhabitants at this time 
amounted to about 1,000. On the 1st August, 1620, the General Assem- 
bly was instituted, and for many years hence the islands prospered. 
During the civil wars many persons of character and opulence took ref- 
uge in the Bermudas, and the population rapidly increased, and is sup- 
posed to have been about 10,000. These islands have always remained 
in possession of the British, though toward the close of the American 
Revolution, Washington had an eye to their capture to make them a 
station for war vessels for the annoyance of the West India trade, as the 
islands lie in the homeward-bound track. At the present time their chief 
importance is their fine location and adaptedness for military purposes. 



THE COLOITY OF BELIZE; 



BRITISH HONDURAS. 

British Honduras lies between latitudes 15° 54^ and 18° 30^ north, and 
longitudes 87° 56^ and 90° 12^ west from Greenwich, or 10° 54^ and 
130 10'' from Washington. It is separated from Yucatan by the Rio 
Hondo, and its southern boundary is formed by the Sarstoon, which falls 
into the Gulf of Honduras. Length, north and south, about 175 miles, 
and breadth, east and west, about 112 miles • area, 18,600 square miles. 

General Description. — Excepting the rivers forming the boundaries north 
and south, the only others of consequence are the Belize, which trav- 
erses the territory from south-west to north-east, dividing it into two 
somewhat equal parts, and the New River, which, rising in New River 
Lake, flows in a course nearly parallel to the Belize, till it reaches the 



BELIZE OR BRITISH HONDURAS. 59 

Caribbean Sea, a few miles south of the Hondo. The rivers are navi- 
gable for 20 to 30 miles from their mouths, but higher up are inter- 
rupted by rapids and falls. The country north of the Belize, and trav- 
ersed by the New River, is low and level, and toward the coast swampy, 
and interspersed with several lakes. East of the New River, however, 
is a range of hills stretching from north-east to south-west, and joining 
on to the mountains of Guatemala. South of the Belize the country, 
though also swampy on the coast, rises inland much moire rapidly, and 
may be generally described as mountainous. It is intersected by a 
ridge parallel to that of the New River, and also connecting with the 
Guatemala system of mountains — the east part, both north and south of 
this ridge, being covered by its lateral branches. The mountains and 
the wide valleys between fhem are clothed with extensive forests of the 
finest timber, including cedars, pines, ironwood, logwood, braziletto, 
mahogany, and cabbage and silk-cotton trees. The shores are lined 
with numerous islands or coral keys, and covered with cocoa-nut trees 
and bushes. The largest are Ambergris Key, toward the north, and 
TurnefF, opposite the town of Belize. These two keys consist of clus- 
ters of several small islands, divided by narrow creeks and lagoons. 
The shores of the continent are rocky, but low, except toward the south, 
where they are higher, and intersected by ravines. 
Climate, Soil, Products, etc. — The climate, especially during the wet 
season, is considered more favorable to health than that of any of the 
West India Islands. The mean annual temperature is about 80° Fahr., 
but the heat is seldom oppressive from the beginning of July to the be- 
ginning of April, being tempered by refreshing sea-breezes ; but during 
April, May, and June it is excessive, though mitigated occasionally by 
violent thunder-storms. The most rainy months are July, August, and 
September. The cultivable portions of the soil are extremely fertile, pro- 
ducing readily all kinds of tropical vegetation, of which plantains, yams, 
mandioca, and Indian corn are grown, and also arrow-root and rice to a 
small extent. Sugar, coffee, cotton, and indigo might also be raised, but 
are neglected. Sarsaparilla is collected in the southern districts. The 
wild animals are those usual to tropical America — ounces, panthers, 
tapirs, deer, peccaries, agouties, armadilloes, and monkeys. Manatis 
and alligators frequent the lagoons ; birds, aquatic and land, abound, and 
fish, turtle, lobsters, and shell-fish are plentiful and of excellent quality. 
The minerals of the country are as yet unsought : but as gold has been 
found in the beds of the rivers, there seems to be no question of its 
existence in the mountains. Iron, copper, etc., are said to be abundant. 



60 BELIZE OR BEITISH HONDURAS. 

Population, Industry, etc. — According to the statements of 1845, the 
colony contained 10,709 inhabitants, viz., whites 399 — males 240, and 
females 159; and colored 10,410 — males 6,755, and females 2,655. The 
negroes were originally brought into the country as slaves, but have long 
since obtained their freedom. The white inhabitants are exclusively occu- 
pied in commerce, and the negroes in cutting mahogany and dye-woods 
and in fishing. A few of them cultivate small patches of ground. Cat- 
tle, sheep, and goats are kept, but are not sufficiently numerous, and the 
deficiency is supplemented from Trujillo and Omoa. The exports in 
1847 consisted of 6,502,777 feet mahogany — the staple article of the 
country, 10,337 feet cedar, 3,223 tons logwood, 206 tons rosewood, 5,684 
seroons cochineal, 611 seroons indigo, 53,689 pounds sarsaparilla, 1,299 
hides, 45 pounds tortoise-shell, with small quantities of lignum- vitee and 
tobacco. The chief imports from the United Kingdom are dry goods and 
fancy articles for the Belize and Spanish America markets ; wine, spir-" 
its, gunpowder, and occasionally provisions ; and from the United States 
provisions, shingles, and sawed lumber. 

Government, etc. — The government is administered by a superintendent 
nominated by the crown, and seven magistrates who form a council, and 
are elected annually by the inhabitants. The supreme judicial author- 
ity resides in a supreme court ; and there are several inferior courts. 
The laws of England are generally applicable throughout the colony. 
Education claims a fair share of consideration, and there are good 
schools in Belize open to all classes. The colony, formerly subsidiary 
to Jamaica, has lately been constituted a separate government. 

Capital. — Belize^ the capital, is the only town in the colony, and is situate 
at the mouth of the river of the same name, which is here crossed by a 
substantial wooden bridge. Lat. 17° 29^ 18^^ north, and long. 88° 12^ 
west. It consists of a long street, running parallel to the sea-shore, from 
which three or four streets diverge. The houses are constructed entirely 
of wood, and are raised 8 or 10 feet from the ground on pillars of mahog- 
any, and are well-built, spacious, and convenient. The town seems 
almost entirely inhabited by blacks. They are described by Stephens as a 
fine-looking race, tall, straight, and athletic, and well-dressed — the men 
in white cotton shirts and trowsers, with straw hats, and the women in 
white short-sleeved frocks and adorned with ear-rings and necklaces. 
During the dry season fresh water is very scarce here, and, indeed, 
throughout the settlement, there being no rivulets, and the water of the 
river being brackish for several miles above the town. The consequence 
is that the inhabitants at this season are compelled to have recourse to 



BELIZE OE BRITISH HONDURAS. 61 

wells about three feet in depth, from -which they procure a muddy, 
brackish, and fetid water, injurious to health, and productive of a variety 
of disorders. Efforts are now being made to remedy the evil both by 
the government and the European public at Belize ; and considerable 
sums have already been expended in sinking wells. An iron market- 
house has recently been erected in the town, costing about $20,000. 
There are also a public hospital, a dispensary for the relief of the poor, 
an asylum for lunatics, and a grammar-school, conducted on the Madras 
system, and which was attended in 1847 by 102 pupils. This school, 
which is entirely supported by government, has likewise a female de- 
partment. A savings' bank has also been established under guarantee 
of the local legislature. The Baptists and Wesleyans have chapels 
here with schools connected, the former one and the latter two. There 
are five judicial courts in Belize — the court of ordinary^ and the supreme, 
grand, summary, and police courts. It is also the seat of the Honduras 
Legislature. The anchorage in front of the town is excellent, being 
protected from the heavy swells of the open sea by numerous quays, 
but is adapted for vessels of moderate size only. Population about 
3,000. At PunLa Grande, about 150 miles south of Belize, there is a 
settlement of Caribs numbering about 500 souls. They were formerly 
natives of the sea-coast below Trujillo, but having taken part against 
Morazan, they fled to this place for safety. 

ISTORY. — Belize, called also British Honduras, is geographically a part 
of the peninsula of Yucatan. It was transferred by Spain to England 
by treaty, in 1670, but at different times its occupation was contested 
by the Spaniards till 1798, since which period it has remained quietly 
in the possession of Great Britain. The settlement is said to have ob- 
tained its name from a noted buccaneer called Wallace, by whom it 
was first discovered. The name was written Waliz by the Spaniards, 
and subsequently further corrupted into Balize or Belize, as it now stands. 



THE COLONY OF THE BAY ISLANDS. 

The Bay Islands consist of a group situate in the Bay of Honduras, and 
are severally known as Roatan, Bonaca, Utilla, Barbarat, Helene, and 
Morat. Geographically they belong to the State of Honduras, being 
located immediately on its coast, and only about 20 or 30 miles north of 
Trujillo, its principal port, and until lately have been in its actual pos- 
session politically. 

Roatan, the largest of the islands, is 30 miles long and 9 miles broad, has 



62 BELIZE OR BRITISH HONDURAS. 

a fine soil, healthful climate, a plentiful supply of good water, and, fur- 
thermore, tv.^0 excellent harbors, each capable of containing a fleet. It 
may be considered, says Alcedo, as the key of the Bay of Honduras, and 
the focus of the trade of the neighboring countries. This beautiful 
island, says MacGregor, has an excellent harbor, easily defended, and is 
well adapted to the culture of cotton, coffee, and other tropical products ; 
and, Capt. Mitchell says, the local position of the island seems one of 
importance in a commercial, and, perhaps, in a political point of view. 
It is the only place where good harbors are found on an extensive and 
dangerous coast. Near this island are the others above refered to, and 
which together have an area estimated at about 600 square miles. 
History. — On the I7th July, 1852, the superintendent of Belize, in the 
name of the queen, proclaimed these islands to constitute and be a Brit- 
ish colony, to be known and designated as the Colony of the Bay Islands ; 
and thus Honduras, after a series of aggressions, was virtually despoiled 
of its legitimate territory. The main points in their antecedent history 
are these : Bonaca, then called Guanaja, was discovered in 1502 by 
Columbus, who took possession of it on behalf of Spain, and in like man- 
ner he took possession of Roatan. Spain remained in undisputed occu- 
pancy until the days of the buccaneers ; and it can readily be supposed 
that Roatan, with its safe and excellent harbor, fine climate, and 
abundant supplies, could not long escape the attention of these rovers. 
A descent was made on it in 1642 by this fraternity, and at the same 
time Bonaca and the neighboring islands were captured. These posi- 
tions, says the historian Juarros, were exceedingly advantageous to them, 
and proportionately injurious to the Spaniards, because, being near the 
mainland, the English (buccaneers) were enabled to make their descents 
whenever they pleased, and with equal facility intercept the commerce 
between the kingdom of Guatemala and Spain. The annoyance from 
this source finally became so serious that an expedition from Havana 
was fitted out to expel them from this stronghold. The expedition con- 
sisted of four ships of war under Villalva y Toledo, who endeavored to 
surprise the buccaneers, but finding the harbors fortified, steered for the 
main for reinforcements. He subsequently returned, and in the month 
of March, 1650, after some hard fighting, succeeded in driving them 
from the island. The Spanish regained possession only to find it a waste. 
The few natives that the buccaneers had spared and reduced to slavery 
were too fearful of their return to remain, and emigrated to the main, 
where the government allotted them lands. The island, thus abandoned, 
seems to have remained deserted until 1742, when the English enter- 



BELIZE OR BRITISH HONDURAS. 



tained and attempted the project of obtaining possession of the whole of 
the Atlantic coast of Central America. In furtherance of this plan they 
forcibly seized upon several important points of the mainland, captured 
Trujillo, and erected forts at the mouth of Black River. They also 
occupied Roatan, and fortified it with materials carried off from Hon- 
duras. These events, in conjunction with others, led to a war with 
Spain, which lasted until 1763, vrhen a treaty was concluded, the 17th 
article of which provided that all fortifications erected by the British in 
the Bay of Honduras should be demolished within four months, etc. The 
■ forts at Black River and other places were accordingly evacuated in 
1664; but in violation of the treaty the occupation of Roatan was con- 
tinued. In 1780 Spain again declared war against England, and the 
authorities of Guatemala succeeded in expelling the English. The treaty 
of peace of 1783, with a special reference to these islands, provided not 
only that the English should abandon the continent (except Belize), but 
all islands whatever depending on it ; and in the supplemental treaty 
of 1786 it was provided that the English should " evacuate the country 
of the Mosquitos, as well as the continent in general and the islands ad- 
jacent, without exception. Not finding any means of evading this pro- 
vision, England did really abandon, not only these islands, but the whole 
coast. The provisions of this treaty were suspended by the war of 1796, 
when England, still hankering after these valuable islands, again occu- 
pied them, and constituted them the penal settlements of the much injured 
natives whom their cruel rapacity had spared in St. Vincent and the 
other Leeward Islands. Two thousand of these were located upon Roa- 
tan, but as soon as the invasion became known in the capital of Guate- 
mala, their subjugation was ordered. Accordingly an expedition was 
sent to the island, which, on the I7th May, 1797, quietly surrendered. 
This seems to have been the final attempt of the English during this 
century forcibly to seize upon these islands, which thenceforward re- 
mained in the undisputed possession of the Spanish crown. A new 
treaty was made Aug. 28th, 1814, into which the stringent provisions 
of the treaty of 1786 were incorporated, word for word; and this last 
was in full force when the Central American provinces threw ofi" their 
allegiance to Spain. Up to that time, therefore, England had acquired 
no shadow of a title to these islands. Passing from Spain they naturally 
lapsed to the republican authorities of the new government, and all the 
rights of sovereignty belonged to it alone. This state of things contin- 
ued until 1830, in which year the British superintendent of Belize made 
a descent on Roatan and seized it on behalf of the British crown. At 



64 BELIZE OR BRITISH HONDURAS. 

this time the States of Central America were united, and not to be out- 
raged. They remonstrated, and the British government solemnly dis- 
avowed the act of their agent, and the islands were abandoned by the 
invaders. From this time until 1841 the islands appear to have remain- 
ed in the occupation of Honduras, to which province they were politi- 
cally attached; but again in that year, disregarding the facts of 1830, 
the superintendent of Belize, proceeding in the sloop-of-war Rover to 
Roatan, and meeting with no resistance from the small garrison stationed 
there, hauled down the flag of the republic and hoisted that of Great 
Britain in its stead. Thas, in the time of peace with Honduras, the 
island was again forcibly seized. The Central Republic had been dis- 
solved since 1830, and the State of Honduras alone was too feeble to 
make effectual resistance, but protested energetically ; yet its communi- 
cations to the British government appear to have been unanswered. 
Subsequently, however, the actions of the superintendent were stated to 
have been in accordance with the orders of the home authorities, and 
severe punishment was threatened if the government of Honduras should 
thenceforward exercise or assume to exercise authority in Roatan. In the 
meanwhile a number of negroes from the Cayman Islands established 
themselves on the islands. For some time they appear to have been 
without any form of government, but with the increase of inhabitants 
they organized a kind of council and elected its members from among 
themselves. These islanders were British subjects, and hence there ap- 
peared some kind of pretext for Britain assuming the control and author- 
ity of the islands. Early in 1851. a plan having been matured, and the 
islanders having been properly instructed, they applied to the superin- 
tendent " to establish a regular form of government in the islands." 
How far this " application" was brought about by the English agents it 
is not necessary to inquire ; but it is certain that in the following August 
Roatan, etc., were declared attached to the superintendency of Belize. 
It was not, however, until the next year that the affair was fully con- 
summated by the proclamation quoted at the commencement of this 
history. 



6UAYANA. 



Astronomical Position. — Between latitudes 8° 40^ north and 3° 30^ 
south, and longitudes 50° 22^ and 68° 10^ west from "Greenwich, or 
8o 52^ and 26° 40^ east from Washington. 

Boundaries. — Northern: the Orinoco River and Atlantic Ocean; — east- 
ern: the Atlantic Ocean ; — southern: the River Amazon and Rio Negro ; 
and — western: the Orinoco River and the canal of Cassiquiare. 

Dimensions. — The greatest length, east and west, is about 1,200 miles, 
and the greatest breadth, north and south, about 850 miles. The area 
may. be computed at 700,000 square miles. 

Political Divisions. — This vast territory, extending along the coast from 
the mouth of the Oronoco to the mouth of the Amazon, and extending 
inland as far as the natural canal of Cassiquiare, is divided into Brazil- 
ian and Venezuelan Guayana, and into colonial Guayana, the latter 
belonging to Great Britain, Holland, and France. The colonial division 
alone, however, is now recognized under this name, and so distinguished 
on the map — the other two being absorbed by their respective countries. 
The three colonies alluded to are maritime territories, lying contiguous 
to each other from west to east, in the order in which they are named. 

Physical Aspect. — The whole surface of the coast-lands is on a level 
with the sea, and hence, when brought into cultivation, have to be em- 
banked and drained by sluices and dams. Shallows and muddy banks 
stretch along the whole line, and run several miles into the water. The 
level country extends from 10 to 40 miles inland, when it is arrested by 
sand hills. Behind these the highland stretches out in level or undu- 
lating plains, rising here and there into eminences. Notwithstanding 
the general flatness of the country toward the coast, the interior is trav-. 
ersed in various directions by chains of mountains, few of which, how- 
ever are of any great height. The principal rivers of the country are 
the Amicuri, Essequibo, Deraerara, Berbice, Corentyn, Surinam, Sar- 
amacca, Coppename, Maroni, Mana, Sinnamary, Oyak, and Oyapok, all 
flowing from south to north, and emptying into the Atlantic. The cli- 
mate is moist, and on the coast extremely unhealthy. The soil is in 
general fertile, and vegetation singularly vigorous and luxuriant. Its 



66 GUAYANA. 



forest trees, which cover about one-half the surface, are of the most 
magnificent description. Fruit trees of various kinds abound — the pine- 
apple, guava, etc., and among medicinal plants are noted ipecacuanha, 
gentian, and many others. Cultivation is chiefly limited to sugar, coffee, 
yams, cassava, plantains, bananas, maize, etc. In the forests, dye-woods, 
cochineal, gum copal, and a multitude of other valuable and unknown 
vegetable productions abound. The flora is rich and varied. The wild 
animals are those of tropical South America generally. The aborigines, 
consisting of the Arrawaks, Accawai, Carabisce, Warrows, Macusies, 
and Wapisianas, are still numerous, and in general live in a savage state. 

British Guayana. 
British Guayana extends along the coast from the Amicuri to the Coren- 
tyn, and consists of the three following districts : 

, ^Population 1850. , 

Districts. Area, sq. m. Eural. Urban. Total. Chief Towns. 

Essequibo 44.000 22,925 — 22,925 ) G^oRflT-TowN 

Demerara 27,000 50,259 25,508 75,76T f trEOEGETOWN. 

Berbice 25,000 24,370 4,633 29,003 New Amsterdam. 

Total 96,000 97,554 30,141 127,695 

— of the total population 86,451 are natives of the country. 

Products, Commerce, etc. — Sugar, rum, cofiee, molasses, and hardwoods 
form the principal articles of export. In 1851 the value of exports was 
$4,152,638, and that of imports $4,106,011. A brisk trade in cattle 
from the Oronoco is also carried on. The foreign trade is chiefly with 
England and the United States. 

Government, etc. — British Guayana is administered by a governor ap- 
pointed by the crown and a court of policy, consisting of ten members — 
five official and five non-official members. The expenditures of the colony 
in 1851 amounted to $928,094, and the revenue produced $974,409. 

Towns. — Georgetown^ the capital, at the mouth of Demerara River, is a 
Dutch-built town, and is intersected with canals. It has numerous 
public buildings, and its port, which has 17 feet anchorage, is well de- 
fended by Fort Frederic William. Population 25,508, of which four- 
fifths are negroes. New Amsterdam, at the mouth of Berbice River, 
extends for a mile and a half along its east bank. Like Georgetown, it 
is intersected by canals, and each residence is separated by a trench or 
ditch, filled and emptied by the tide. It has commodious wharfs and 
warehouses, and the entrance to the river is defended by three strong 
batteries. Small vessels only can enter the harbor. Population 4,633. 
These towns are chiefly engaged in commerce. 



GUAYANA. 67 



History.— 'Guayana was discovered by Vasco Nunez in 1504, and in 1558 
the Dutch made their first settlement on the Pomeroon. It was sub,se- 
quently, at several periods, seized upon by the British, and from 1803 
that nation retained its present territory. 

Dutch Guayana, or Surinam. 

Dutch Guayana extends along the coast from the Corentyn to the Maroni, 
and contains 59,765 square miles. 

Population, etc. — At the close of 1850 the colony contained 61,080 in- 
habitants, of whom 12,401 were Europeans and Creoles, 8,000 bush 
negroes, 1,000 Indians, and 39,679 slaves. Of religious sects, the Mora- 
vians numbered 17,933 members. Schools 15 — scholars about 1,200. 

Productive Industry. — On 273 plantations, consisting of 366,548 acres. 
48,815 were under cultivation. The staples produced in 1851 were 
sugar, rum, molasses, coffee, cocoa, and cotton, together valued at 
Si, 243, 310. The live-stock consisted of — horses 168, mules 59, horned 
cattle 5,564, sheep 3,115, goats 454, and hogs 4,664. Surinam in 1851 
was visited by 246 vessels; imports $835,025, and exports $1,150,841. 
The trade is chiefly with Holland. There is a line of mail steamers 
between Paramaribo and Demerara. 

Government. — The colony is ruled by a governor, appointed by the crown, 
and a council, elected by the freeholders. Justice is administered by a 
supreme court, courts of minor jurisdiction, and a court of inheritance and 
orphans. The receipts into the treasury in 1850 amounted to $436,072, 
and the disbursements to $416,959. • The slaves of this colony were 
emancipated in 1851, but remain as indentured apprentices for 12 years, 
and work without pay. The army consists of 610 men of all arms, and 
the navy of 11 vessels, chiefly small. 

Chief Town. — Paramariho^ the capital, is situate on the right bank of the 
Surinam, about 10 miles from its mouth. A little north from the town 
is the fort of Zeelandia, where the governor resides, and where also most 
of the government establishments are situate. Paramaribo has a mili- 
tary and civil hospital, and a charitable society. New Amsterdam is 
the principal port. Batavia, Orange, and Fredenhurg are on the coast, 
and Wilhelmsburg^ Magdenhurg, and Jews^ Town in the interior. 

History. — The first settlements were made by the Dutch in 1580, on the 
Pomeroon. The colony rapidly spread eastward over Demerara and 
Essequibo. In 1781, 1796, and 1803 it was taken by the British, and 
from the latter period only the present restricted territory has been held 
by the Dutch authorities. 



GUAYANA. 



French Guayana, or Cayenne. 

French Guayana occupies the most easterly portion of colonial Guayana, 
its coast-line extending from the Maroni to the Oyapok — a distance of 
200 miles. The territory comprises the island of Cayenne, celebrated 
for the description of pepper having that name. Area 22,500 sq. miles. 

Divisions, Population, etc. — The colony is divided into two districts — 
Cayenne and Sinnamary, and 14 communes. In 1851 the population 
amounted to 22,010, of which 14,997 were negroes. 

Productive Industry. — In addition to the staples of the British and Dutch 
colonies, French Gu-yana produces pepper, cloves, cinnamon, and nut- 
megs. The annual value of imports and exports is between $2,500,000 
and $3,000,000. Trade is chiefly with France and her colonies. 

Government. — The government is vested in a governor, assisted by a 
privy council and colonial council of 16 members, elected by the colo- 
nists. The expenses of the government are about $600,000 a year. 

Chief Town. — Cayenne^ on the island of the same name, is capital of the 
colony. The harbor is shallow, but otherwise good. It is protected by 
a fort and several batteries. The government house is in the old town, 
a miserable district ; the new town has good streets, is well built, and 
has several storage warehouses. Population about 5,000. Sinnamary, 
Oyapok, etc., are comparatively small settlements on the mainland. 

History. — The French first settled Cayenne in 1604. In 1763 the gov- 
ernment sent out 12, Co./ emigrants, but these mostly perished. The 
British and Portuguese captured the colony in 1809, but restored it to 
France in 1814, with whom it still remains. Its population in 1851 
was largely augmented by the transportation of political offenders. 



1 
CATALOGUE 

OF 

MAPS, CHARTS, BOOKS, ETC., 

PUBLISHED BY 

J. H. COLTON & CO., 

JrO. 172 WILLIAM-STREET, COENEB, OF BEEKMAN 



LLlustTated and EmlDellislied Steel-Plate 

MAP OF THE WORLD, 

On Mercator's Projection, exhibiting tlie recent Arctic 
and Antarctic Discoveries and Explorations, &c. &c. 
6 sheets. Size, SO by 60 inches. 

Price, mounted, $13 00. 

This splendid and highly-finished map is the largest and most accuj-ate 
work of the kind ever published. It exhibits a full resume of all geo- 
graphical knowledge, and shows at one view, not only the world as it 
now is, in all its natural and political relations, but also the progress of 
discovery from the earliest ages. In its compilation, every facility has 
been rendered by the liberality of our own government in furnishing 
published and private maps and documents ; and also by the govern- 
ments of Europe, especially those of France and England, whose rich 
stores of geographical works have elicited much, that until the present 
publication has been as a sealed letter. As a work of art, it excels all 
its predecessors, and is as ornamental as useful. It is beautifully colored, 
and mounted in the handsomest style. 



MAP OF THE WORLD, 

On Mercator's Projection, exhibiting the recent Arctic 
and Antarctic Discoveries and Explorations, &:c. «&c« 
2 sheets. Size, 44 by 36 inches. 

Price, mounted, $4 00. 

This work is reduced from the large map, and contains all the moro 
Important featiu-es of that publication. It has been constructed with 
especial reference to commercial utility ; the ports, lines .of travel, inte- 
rior trading towns and posts, &c., being accurately laid down. An im- 
portant feature in this map is the transposition of tlie continents so as to 
give America i central position, and exhibit the Atlantic and Pacific 
ocea.'us in their entirety. The map is engraved on steel, highly embol- 
lishidd, and mounted in the best style. As a medium sized map, it con- 
tains much more than the usual amount of information. ' . 



2 MAPS, CHARTS, BOOKS, ETC., 

MAP OF THE WORLD, 

On Mercator's projection, &c. 1 sheet. Size, 28 by 23 
inches. Price, mounted, $1 50. 

Thia is a beautifully got up map, and, from the closeness of its infor- 
mation, contains aa much as the generality of maps twice its size. It is 
well adapted for the use of those who do not require the detail ol 
topography, which is the peculiar featiu-e in the larger maps. As a 
companion to the student of general history it is, perhaps, prefer- 
able to any other, as it is compact and easy of reference. The pro- 
gress of discovery, from the times of Columbus to the present day, ia 
fully exhibited ; and especial care has been taken to show distinctly the 
recent explorations in the Arctic and Autai-ctic regions. 



MISSIONARY MAP OF THE WORLD, 

On a hemispherical projection, each hemisphere being 
six feet in diameter, and both printed on one piece ot 
cloth at one impression. Size, 160 by SO inches. 

Price, $10 00. 



MAP OF NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA, 

"With enlarged plans of the fsthnius of Panama — 
the ffsthnius of Tehuantepec — and the Nicaragua 
Route, sho-vring the projected and completed lines 
of inter-oceanic communication — also plans of the 
Bermuda Islands — the Bffarbor of San Juan de 
Nicaragua — and the Cities of Rio de Janeiro, 
Panama, and AspiniTall City. Also tables of dis> 
tances from the principal ports of the United 
States to all parts of the tTorld, etc. 2 Sheets. 
Size, 45 by 52 inches. Price, mounted, $5 00. 

This map is beautifully ensraved on steel plates, and is colored and 
mounted in superior style. Of the Americas together, it is by far the 
most complete and reliable of any map extant. It exhibits the larger 
portion of the Pacific, with its groups of islands, and nearly all of the 
Atlantic Ocean, with the western coasts of Africa and Europe, the tracks 
of navigators, etc 



MAP OF INORTH AMERICA, 

Compiled from the latest authorities. 1 sheet. Size, 
89 by 26 inches. 

Price, mounted, $1 50; in cases, $0 75* 



PUBLISHED BY J. H. COLTON. 3 

TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP OF THE WEST INDIES, 

With the acyacent coastji : compiled from the latest au- 
thorities. 1 sheet. Size, 32 by 25 inches. 

Price, mounted, $1 50 ; in cases, $0 75* 



MAP OF SOUTH AMERICA, 

Carefully compiled from the latest maps and charts and 
other geographical publications. 2 sheets. Size, 44 
by 31 inches. Price, mounted, $4 00. 

This is the largest and best map of South America ever issued in thia 
countiy, and the only one available for commercial puiposes. It is also 
an excellent school map. 

MAP OF SOUTH AMERICA, 

Compiled from the latest authoiities, and accompanied 
with statistical tables of the area, population, &e., of 
the several states. 1 sheet. Size, 32 by 25 inches. 

Price, mounted, $1 50. 



MAP OF EUROPE, 

Carefully compiled from the latest maps and charts, 
a.nd other geographical publications. 4 sheets. Size, 
58 by 44 inches. Price, mounted, $6 00. 

The best map of Europe extant, exhibiting the topography and polit- 
ical condition of that continent with great accuracy. It is an excellent 
map for schools as well as for the merchant's office. 



Compiled from the laiesc authorities, &c., with statia- 
tical tables exhibiting the area, population, form of 
government, religion, «&;c., of each state. 1 sheet. 
Siz«, 32 by 25 inches. Price, mounted, ^1 50. 



MAP OF ASIA, 

Carefully compiled from the latest maps and charts^ 
and other geographical publications. 4 sheets. Size, 
58 by 44 inches. Price, mounted, ^S 00. 

This map is the largest and most accurate ever issued in Americai 
md contains all the most recent determinations in BriJish Indiji, &.C. 



4: MAPS, CHARTS, BOOKS, ETC., 

It is indispensably necessary to merchants trading with Chinti, India, 
fcc., and must be especially valnable at the present time, when our con- 
nection with those countries is daily becoming more intimate. Nor is 
it leaa valuable for seminaries of leai-ning. 



MAP OF ASIA, 

Compiled from tlie most recent authorities, together 
■with statistical tables of the area, population, &c., of 
each state* 1 sheet. Size, 32 by 25 inches. 

Price, mounted, $1 50. 



MAP OF AFRICA, 

Carefully compiled from tlie latest maps and charts, 
and other geographical publications. 4 sheets. Size, 
58 by 44 inches. Price, mounted, $6 00. 

The largest and most accurate map of Africa ever published m the 
United States. It exhibits the most recent discoveries of travellers — 
the new political divisions on the north and west coasts and in South- 
ern Africa, &c., &c. As an oiEce or school map it has no superior. 



MAP OF AFRICA, 

Compiled from the latest authorities, and accompanied 
with statistical tables of the area, population, &c., of 
each state. 1 sheet. Size, 32 by 25 inches. 

Price, mounted, $1 50 



MAP OF THE UNITED STATES, 
THE BEITISH PEOnNCES, MEXICO, AND THE WEST INDIES. 

ShoTTing the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific 
ocean. 4 slieets. Size, 62 by 55 inches. 

Price, S6 00. 

Extraordinary exertions have been employed to make this map perfect- 
ly reliable and authentic in all respects. It is the only large map tliat ex- 
hibits the United States in its full extent. Being- engraved on steel, and 
Handsomely mounted, it forms not only a useful, but highly ornamental 
addition to the office, library, or hall. All the railroads, canals, and post- 
roads, with distances from, place to place, are accurately laid down. To 
maie the map more generally useful, the publisher has appended to it a 
map of Central America and the Isthmus of Panama, and also a plan ex • 
hibiting the inter-oceanic railroad, &c. It deserves to take precedence o 
all maps heretofore published in this country. 



POBLISHED BY J. H. COLTON. 



MAP OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CANADAS; 

Showing the base, meridian, and township lines of the 
United States surveys ; the lines of counties, districts, 
and parishes ; the location of cities, villages, and post- 
offlces; all railroads, canals, post and other roads; also 
the district and town lines of the Canadas— the whole 
being compiled from the latest surveys and other authen- 
tic sources. 9 sheets. Size, 82 by 68 inches. 

Price, mounted, or in portable form, $13.00. 

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. 

" As a work of mere art, it is exceedingly beautiful ; but as an accurate 
and faithful delineation of the country, in all its aspects, geographical and 
political, it is entitled to the very highest praise. The map is six feet by 
seven, projected on a scale of twenty-tour miles to the inch ; showing, with 
the utmost accuracy, not only the general, but minute features ofthe whole 
Country. Every state, county, and township, within our whole broad ter- 
ritory, is designated by boundary lines — the courses of rivers and streams, 
canals, railroads, stage and post roads, the position of cities, tovinis, vil- 
lages and hamlets, lakes and mountains, are laid down — every county being 
colored separately. The meridian and township lines of the United States 
survevs, and indeed all the topographical minutife ever found on maps, is 
here displayed. So far as the ornamental portion of this great work is con- 
cerned, we repeat that it is superior to any thing we nave seen. It is 
splendidly bordered by scroll-work, and by the introduction, at proper 
places, of fou-rteen of the most important cities of the United States: 
among which, New York and New Orleans are most conspicuous, and 
upon a larger scale. Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, and 
Charleston, are very accurately represented, and beautifully engraved, as 
is the case with all the rest, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, &c., &c. 
These views, it seems to us, are worth half the price of the whole work, 
as specimens of our rapid improvement in the arts. However, it is to the 
utilitarian portion of the map, that we wish particularly to call the atten- 
tion of the public. In this respect, it is invaluable." 

New York Courier and Enquirer. 

" This noble map is six feet by seven, projected on a scale of twenty-four 
miles to the inch, and is certified on the map by Mr. Steige'r, the principal 
Clerk of Sui-veys at Washington, that it embraces all surveys made by the 
United States, from the Atlantic ocean to the American Desert", or to the 
32d degree of west longitude. It would seem to be authority on all boun- 
dary questions, from national to township lines. This map is particularly 
valuable for its correctness in regard to the Western and Southern States 
and Tern ories. The base, meridian, and township lines of the United 
States sui veys are given ; and those owuing lands in any part of our 
country, witli the map before them, may put thejr finger upon any section, 
and see the streams, lakes, swamps, &c., portrayed from actual survey. In 
addition to the United States, the map contains a representation of the 
Canadas, ami North and Central America, a desirable improvement upon 
the shadowy outlines heretofore given. The countries set apart by the 
United States for the use of the different Indian tribes, and their names, 
are also given. As a work of art, this map is unquestionably a liigfi 
achievement. It is wholly en^^raved on steel, is splendidly bordered by 
scroll-work, with the introduction, at proper places, of vignettes of cities 
among which New Orleans and New York are most conspicuous, and 
embraces a fine view of our National and State emblems.'' 

New Orleans Commercial Bulletin 



§ PUBLISHED BY J. H. C O L T N . 

MAP OF THE UNITED STATES, 

THE BRITISH PROYINCES. MEXICO. THE WEST INDIES, AND 

CENTRAL MfERICA, WITH PARTS OP NEW 

GRENADA AND VENEZUELA, 

ExMbiting the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific, 
and from 50° N. lat. to the Isthmus of Panama and 
the Oronoco river. 3 sheets. Size, 45 by 36 inches. 
Price, mounted, $3 00; in cases, $1 50. 

The vast extent of country embraced in this map, and the importance 
of the territories portrayed, render it one of the most useful to the mer- 
chant and all others connected with or interested in the onward pro- 
gress of the United States. It is peculiarly adapted to the present times, 
Bhowing, as it does, the whole sphere of American steam navigation on 
both sides of the continent, and giving the best delineations extant of 
our new territories on the Pacific. All the railroads and canals ai-e laid 
down with accuracy. There is also appended to the map a diagram of 
the Atlantic ocean, in reference to steam communication between Eu- 
rope and America ; and a detailed plan of the Isthmus of Panama, show- 
ing the several lines of inter-oceanic intercourse. The map is engraved 
on steel and highly embellished. 



THE STATE OF ARKANSAS. 
COLTON'S NEW TOWNSHIP ilAP OF ARKANSAS. 
Compiled from the United States Surveys, and other au- 
thentic sources. By D. F. Shall. Size, 30 by 35 inches. 
Price, mounted, $3 00; pocket, $1 00, 
This is the best map of this state published — its correctness being cer- 
tified by various government and state officers. 



MAP OF THE STATE OF INEW YORK, 
WITH PARTS OP THE ADJACENT COUNTRY, 
Embracing plans of the principal cities and some of the 
larger villages. By David H. Burr. 6 sheets. Size, 
60 by 50 inches. Price, mounted, $6 00. 

This is the largest and best map of the state in the market, and ex- 
hibits accurately all the county and township lines; all internal im- 
provements, and the position of cities, villages, &c.' A new edition, 
embi-acing all the alterations made by the state legislature, is issued as 
early aa possible after the close of each session annually, so that tb« 
public may rely on its completeness at the date of issue. 

1* 



MAPS, CHARTS, BOOKS, ETC. 7 

MAP OF THE {STATES OF INEW ENGLAND AND N. YORK, 

With parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, tlie Canadas^ 
&;e., sho-wing the railroads, canals, and stage-roads, 
^with distances from place to place, 1 sheet. Size, 30 
by 23 inches. Price, mounted, ^1 25. 

Tills is an exceedingly minute and correct map, having been compiled 
With great cai-e and a strict adherence to actual sm-vey. 



MAP OF THE COUNTRY 33 MILES AROUND 

THE CITY OP NEW TOEK. 

Compiled from the maps of the United States' Coast 
Survey and other authorities. 1 sheet. Size, 29 by 
26 inches. 

Price, mounted, $1 50 ; in cases, $0 75, 



MAP OF LONG ISLAND, 

With the environs of the city of New York and the 
southern part of Connecticut. By J. Calvin Smith. 
4 sheets.. Size, 60 by 42 inches. 

Price, mounted, $4 00. 



TRAVELER'S MAP OF LONG ISLAND. 

Price, in cases, $0 38. 

A neat pocket map for duck-shooters and other sportsmen. 



MAP OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, 

Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Jersey City, and the acUaceni 
waters. 3 sheets. Size, 56 by 32 inches. 

Price, mounted, $3 00. 

The Commissioners' Survey is the basis of this map. The improve- 
ments have been accm-ately laid down : and to make the work more 
valuable, maps of the vicinity of New York, of the Hudson river, and 
of the cities of Boston and Philadelphia, have been appende.1. No 
exertion has been spai-ed to keep the work up with the progress of the 
city and neighborhood. The exceedingly low price at which it is issued 
ought tc secixrs to it a large circulation. 



8 PUBLISHED BY J. H. CO 1 TON. 

MAP OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, 

Together ■with Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Grecnpolnt) 
Jersey City, Hoboken, &;c., exhibiting a plan of the 
port of New Yoi'k, with its islands, sandbanks, rocks, 
and the soundings in feet. 1 sheet. Size, 32 by 26 
inches. Price, mounted, $1 50; in cases, $0 50. 



IVIAP OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN, 

As consolidated by an act of the JLegislature of the 
State of Ne^v ¥'ork,incIuding ]Srooklyn,WiIlianis- 
burgh, Oreen Point, and Bushxvick, constructed 
from the official maps of the Commissioners and 
other authentic sources, exhibiting the farm lines 
and names of the original o^tvners. Size, 54 by 
40 inches. Price^ mounted, $5 OO. 



SECTIONAL MAP OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, 

Compiled from the United States' surveys. Also exhibit- 
ing the internal improvements; distances between 
towns, villages, and post-offices ; outlines of prairies, 
"woodlands, marshes, and lands donated by the Gene- 
ral Government for the purposes of internal improve- 
ments. By J. M. Feck, Tohn Messenger, and A. J. 
Mathewson. 2 sheets. Size, 43 by 32 inches. 

Price, mounted, $2 50 ; in cases, $1 50. 
The largest, most accurate, and only reliable map of Illinois extant. 



MAP OF THE STATE OF INDIANA, 

Compiled from the United States' Surveys by S. D. 
King. Exhibiting the sections and fractional settions, 
situation and boundaries of counties, the location of 
cities, villages, and post-offices — canals, railroads, and 
other internal improvemerts, &;e., &C. 6 sheets. Size, 
66 by 48 inches. Price, mounted, $6 00. 

The only large and accurate map of Indiana eyer issued, and one 
that every land-owner and speculator will find indispensably necessary 
to a full understanding of the topography of the country, and the im- 
provements Which have been completed, and those which are now in 
progress. It is handsomely engraved and embeUished. 



MAPS, CHAUTS, BOdKS, ETC., 9 

MAP OF THE STATE OF INDIANA, 

Compiled from the United States' surveys. Exhibiting 
the sections and fractional sections, situation and 
boundaries of counties, the -location of cities, villages, 
and post-offices— canals, railroads, and other internal 
improvements, &C.5 &c, 2 sheets. Sizcj 43 by 32 
inches. Price, mounted, $3 00. 

This map is a reduction from the large work, and contains equally 

with that important publication all the essential features of the state 

and the improvements that have been effected. It is suitable for an 

oflSce or house map. 



A NEW MAP OF INDIANA, 

Reduced from the largo map. Exhibiting the boundaries 
of counties ; township surveys ', location of cities, towns, 
villages, and post-offlces— canals, railroads, and other 
internal improvements, &c* 1 sheet. Size, 17 by 14 
inches. Price, in cases, $0 38. 



MAP OF MICHIGAN, 

Map of the sui-veyed part of the State of Michigan. By 
Jolm Fai*mer. 1 sheet. Size, 35 by 25 inches. 

Price, mounted, $2 00 ; in cases, Si 50. 



MAP OF THE WESTERN STATES, 

l^iz. I Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, 
and Wisconsin, and the Territory of Minesota, show- 
ing the township lines of the United States' Surveys, 
location of cities, to\vns, villages, post-hamlets— canals, 
railroads, and stage-roads. By J. Calvin Smith. 1 
r sheet. Size, 28 by 24 inches. 

Price, mouMtedj^l 25; in cases, $0 63. 



MAP OF KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE; 

Exhibiting the railroads, post roads, &c, 1 sheet. Size 
25 by 17 inches. 

Price, mounted, Sl.25 ; and in cases, $0.50. 



10 PUBLISHED BY J. H. JOLTON. 

STREAM OF TIME, 

Or Chart of Universal History. Prom the original Ger- 
man of Strauss. RoTised and continued by R. S, 
Fisher, M. D. Size, 43 by 32 inches. 

Price, mounted, $3 00. 

An invaluable companion to every student of History. 



MAP OF THE CITY AND COUINTY OF IMEW YORK. 

With parts of Brooklyn, Williamsbur^h and Green Point, 
and of Jersey City, Hoboken, &c. ""Compiled from the 
latest Surveys, &c. 1 Sheet. Size 32 by 20 inches. 

Price, mounted, Si 50 ; in cases, SO 50. 

This map exhibits that portion of the city below 8~th street on a 
large and uniform scale ; the portion north o'f that street is exhibited 
on a smaller scale, but is distinct and complete, being engraved on 
steel. The ward lines, fire -limits, &c., are laid down with accuracy^ 
and in every respect the map is well suited either for the office or pocket 



PORTRAITS OF THE PRESIDENTS, 

And Declaration of Independence. 1 sheet. Size, 42 by 
31 inches. Price, mounted, $1 50. 



NEW MAP OF CENTRAL AMERICA, 

From the most recent and authentic sources ; shotring 
the lines of communication between the Atlantic and 
Pacific oceans. One sheet. Price, in cases, $0 50* 



MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS. 

A combined view of the principal mountains and rivers 
in the world, with tables showing their relative height«r 
and lengths. 1 sheet. Size, 32 by 25 inches. 

Price, mounted, $1 50* 



A CHART OF NATIONAL FLAGS 



Each represented in its appropriate colors. 1 sheet* 
Si7«, 2S by 22 inches. Price, mounted, $1 50. 



MAPS, CHARTS, BOOKS, ETC., U 



AN ILLUSTRATED MAP 01- HUMAN LIFE, 

Dednced from passages of Sacred Writ. 1 sheet. Size* 
25 by 20 inches. Price, mounted, $0 73. 



MAP OF PALESTINE, 

From the latest authorities : chiefly from the maps and 
drawings of Robinson & Smith, irith corrections and 
additions furnished by the Rev. Dr. £. Rbbinson, and 
vrith plans of Jerusalem and of the journey ings of the 
Israelites. 4 sheets. Size, SO by 62 inches. 

Price, mounted, $S 00. 

This large and elegant map of the Holy Land is intended for the Sun- 
day-school and Lecture-room. It is boldly executed, and lettered in 
large type, which may be read at a great distance. Both the ancient 
and modem names of places are given. 



MAP OF PALESTINE, 

From the latest authorities: chiefly from the maps and 
drawings of Robinson & Smith, with corrections and 
additions furnished by the Rev. Dr. £. Robinson. 2 
sheets. Size, 43 by 32 inches. 

Price, mounted, $3 00. 

This map is elegantly engraved on steel, and is peculiarly ada]jted to 
family use and the use of theological students. It contains every place 
noted on the larger map, the only diflference being in the scale on which 
it is drawn. While the large map is well suited for a school or lectm-e- 
room, this is more convenient for family use and private study. Plana 
of Jerusalem and the vicinity of Jerusalem are attached. The religious 
and secular press throughout the country has expressed a decided 
preference for this map of Professor Robinson over all others that have 
ever been issued. 



MAP OF EGYPT, 

The Peninsula of Mount Sinai, Arabia Petraia, with the 
southern part of Palestine. Compiled from the latest 
authorities. Showing the jonrneyings of the children 
of Israel from Egypt to the Holy l<and. 1 sheet. 
Size, 32 by 25 inches. Price, mounted, $1 50. 

An excellent aid to the Bible student. 



12 PUBLISHED BY J. H. C O L T N . 



NEW TESTAMENT MAP. 

A map of the countries mentioned in the New Testament 
and of the travels of the Apostles— with ancient and mod- 
em names, from the most authentic sources. 1 sheet. 
Size, 33 by 25 inches. Price, mounted, $1 50* 

" Its size, finish, distinctness, fullness, and accuracy, make it very ele- 
gant and useful. Sabbath-school teachers and private Chi-istians, as 
well as theological students, may esteem and use it with great advan- 
tage. * * * I own and value." Samuel H, Cox, D. D. 

" On a scale neither too large to be irawieldy, nor yet too small to be 
accurate, it presents at a single view, with great distinctness, the scenes 
of the striking events of the New Testament, and cannot fail to f»ive to 
those events a greater clearness, and by presenting so plamly their lo- 
calities to throw over them new interest. ***** it seems to 
have been drawn in accordance with the best authorities." 

Erskine Mason, D. D. 

"Valuable for accuracy, beauty, and cheapness. Having both the 
ancient and modern names of places, and being of portable eizc, it 
would appear happily adapted for the use of Sabbath-school teachers." 

WiUiam R. Williams, D. D. 

" I have been much pleased with the apparent accuracy, EBd the 
beautiful execution of a map of the countries mentioned in the New 
Testament, published by Mr. Colton, and think it adapted to be useful." 

Stephen M. Tyng, JD. D. 



GUIDE-BOOK THROUGH THE UNITED STATES, &c. 

Travelers' and Tourists' Guide-Book through the United 
States of America and the Canadas. Containing the 
routes and distances on all the great lines of travel by 
railroads, canals, stage-roads, and steamboats, togeth- 
er with descriptions of the several states, and the 
principal cities, towns, and villages, in each — accom- 
panied vrith a large and accurate map. 

Price, $1.00. 



ROUTE-BOOK THROUGH THE UNITED STATES, &c. 

Travelers' and Tourists' Route-Book through the Unite 
States of America and the Canadas. Containing the 
routes and distances on all the great lines of travel by 
railroads, stage-roads, canals, rivers, and lakes, &c.— 
accompanied with a large and accurate map. 

Price, $0.75. 



MAPS, CiiARTb, GOO KB. ETC. 13 



MAP OF INEW E^JGLANOj 

With portions of the State of New York and the British 
Provinces. 4 sheets. Size, 64 by 56. 

Price, mounted— colored in counties, $5.00. 
" " colored in towns, $6.00. 

This is a magnificent map, engraved on steel, and exhibits the state 
county, and town lines ; all the railroads, and other internal improve- 
ments, and the general geography of the country— the whole on a larger 
scale than has ever been published before. It has also appended to it a 
separate map of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. 



EDDY'S MAP OF CALIFORNIA. 

Approved and declared to be the Omcial Map of the State 

by an Act of the Legislature, passed March 25, 1853. 

Compiled by William M. Edd y, State Sm-vey or General. 

3 Sheets. SiSze 53 by 46 inches. 

Price, mounted, $5 00 ; in cases, S3 00. 

Attthokities.— The coast line from San Diego to Oregon and the 
Harbors, Bays and Islands, are from data furnished from the U. S 
Coast Survey Office at Washington, and includes the work of 1852. 

The Salinas and Tulare Valleys, the northern portion of the Stat6 
embraced in part «f Siskiyou and Shasta counties, the Colorado Eiver, 
and that portion of Oregon shown on the map, are from Surveys and 
Eeconnoissances of the U. S. Topographical Engineers. 

The counties of Mendocino, Trinity, and Klamath, are from the map 
of George Gibbs, Esq. 

The country from the Pacific to the Gila, is from the map of tha 
Boundary Commissioners. 

The remaining portion of the State is from maps and sketches 
made by the Surveyor General, County and other surveyors, and from 
astronomical observations under the superintendence of the Surveyor 
General, and verifications from the U. S. Land Surveys. 

The Mono country is from a sketch made by the discoverers, Lieuta 
T. Moore and N. H. McLean, TJ, S. Army. 

WM. M. EDDY, State Surveyor Qeneral. 

San Feaitcisco, March 31st, 1853. 

NEBRASKA AND KANSAS. 

New map of Nebnaska and Kansas, exfiibiting the 
routes, settieraients, etc. 1 sheet. 

Price, @© 38? in cases, ^O &Q. 



14 PUBLISHED BY J. H. COLTO:^. 



THE WESTERN TOURIST, 

And Emigrant's Guide tbrougli the sta^e^ of Oliio, Mic6- 
igan, Indiana, Illinois^ Missoui'i, Iowa, and Wiscon- 
sin, and the territories of Minesota, Missouri, and 
Nebraska, being an accurate and concise description 
of each state and territory ; and containing the routes 
and distances on the great lines of travel — accompanied 
'With a large and minute map, exhibiting the township 
lines of the United States' surveys, the boundaries of 
counties, and the position of cities, villages, and set- 
tlements, &;c. Price, $0 75t» 



Being an account of all Republics, Empires, Kingdoms, 
and Nations, in reference to their geography, statistics, 
commerce, «&;c., together with a brief historical outline 
of their rise, progress, and present condition, t&c, &c. 
By Richard S. Fisher, M, D. In two volumes, pp. 633- 
727. (Illustrated with maps and charts,) 

Price, $5 00, 

A CHRONOLOGICAL VIEW OF THE WORLD, 

Exhibiting the leading events of Universal History ; th© 
origin and progress of the arts and sciences, «fcc. ; 
collected chiefly from the article '* Chronology" in the 
new Edinburgh Encyclopedia, edited by Sir David 
Brewster, EL,. D., F. R. S., dec. ; with an enlarged 
view of important events, particularly in regard to 
American History, and a continuation to the present 
time, by Daniel Haskell, A. M., American Editor of 
McCnlloch's Universal Gazetteer, (fcc. 12mo. pp. 267. 

Price, $0 75 

MAP OF THE TERRITORY OF MINESOTA, 

Exhibiting the Official Surveys. Compiled by T. Knauer, 
Civil Engineer, &c. Scale, 6 miles to the inch. Size, 
32 by SOinches. 

Price, mounted, S2 00 ; in cases, $1 00. 

This map contains all the recent surveys made in the Territory by the 
United States' Surveyors, and exhibits with accuracy the base and me- 
ridian line? ; the county, township, and section lines, and the general 
topography of the country, until now so little known. It is the only 
authentic map of the Territory ever published, and will be invaluabk) 
alike to tbe emigrant tlie speculator, and the traveler. 



MAPS, CHARTS, BOOKS, ETC. 15 

PLAN OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN NORTH AMERICA. 

SURVEYED IN THE YEARS 1766 AND 1767. 
To His Excellency Sir Henry Moore, Bart., Captain- 
General and Governor-in-Chief in and over His Ma- 
jesty's Province of New York and the Territories de- 
pending thereon in America, Chancellor and Vice- 
Admiral of the Same, this Plan of the City of New 
York and its Environs, Surveyed and liaid Down, is 
Most Humbly Dedicated by His Excellency^ Most 
Obed. Humble Servant, 

B. RATZER, 
Lieut, in His Majesty's 60th or Royal American Rcgt. 
3 sheets. Size, 44 by 40 inches. 

Price, mounted, $5 00. 

The value of the above map in legal cases is sufficiently attested by the 
the fact that the subscription list comprises the names of all the most 
eminent surveyors and lawyers in the cities of Nevsr York and Brooklyn. 



THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 

MAP OF THE STATE OE SOUTH CAROLINA, 

Compiled from Railroad, Coast, and State Surveys. By 

G. E. Walker and J. Johnson, Civil Engineers. 4 

sheets. Size, 73 by 57 inches. 

Price, mounted, $10 00. 

This map has been compiled under the authority of the Legislature of 
the State of South Carolina, and is the only map of the State which, for 
accuracy of delineation and minutiae of detail, can claim to be reliable. 
It embraces all tlie surveys made by or under authority of the local, 
g-overnment, the sui-veys of the most eminent civil engineers in the ser- 
vice of the several railroad companies, and the results of the United States' 
Coast Survey; and for the authenticity of its material, and the general 
correctness of its topographical illustrations, the reputation of two of the 
most widely known and esteemed engineers of the State is responsible. 
Such guarantees for the perfection of a state map were never before 
afforded to the public. The map, in point of minuteness, stands ua- 
equalled: it exhibits the lines of all existing ra'ilroads, all railroads in 
progress, and those also which are projected, the whole system of post and 
district roads, and all other internal improvements ; the situation of cities, 
to\\ais, villages, post-offices, and the great multiplicity of other objects 
usually'found on the best and most elaborate maps ; and in point of execu- 
tion, its artistical merits are such as to challenge the admiration of all 
whose opinion is worth recording. The large scale adopted by the authors, 
the distinctness with which its great natural features are depicted, and 
the truthfulness of its geographical context, adapt it peculiarly to the 
wants of all interested in commerce, internal trade, and general busi- 
ness within the State ; and to sui-veyors and engineers it must supply 
much that is new, important, and valuable to facilitate their labors in the 
field as well as in the office. No resident, indeed, at all interested in the 
progress of the State, can well do without this map, v/hich so faithfully 
reflects the actual condition of the country with which he is identifieii. 



16 PUBLISHED BY J. H. COLTOIT. 

COLTON'S OUTLINE MAPS, 

ADAPTED TO THE USE OF 

PRIMARY, GRAMMAR, AND HIGH SCHOOLS. 



This new and valuable Series of Outline Maps comprises — 

A Map of tlie World, in two hemispheres, each 80 
inches in diameter, and separately mounted. 

A Map of the United States, 80 by 62 inches. 

A Map of Europe, 80 by 62 inches, on the same plan 
with that of the United States, will complete the series. 

THE MAPS OF THE WORLD 

Are nearly q^iadruple the size of any others now in use, and exhibit 
the different portions of the Eai-th's surface in bold and vivid out- 
line, which makes them sufficiently distinct to be plainly seen and 
studied from the most distant pai-ts of the largest school-room. They 
exhibit the physical features of the World, and also give an accurate 
view of its political divisions, showing the relative size of each, with 
their natural and conventional boundaries. In the corners of each 
map there are diagrams which exhibit the elements of physical geogra- 
phy, as the parallels, meridians, zones, and climates — the latter by 
isothermal lines. There are also appended two separate hemispheres, 
exhibiting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans complete, f>i.c., forming in all 
eight different diagrams, illustrative of the primary elements of the 
science. These appendices will greatly assist the teacher in his eluci- 
dations, and make tangible to the scholar the basis of geographical 
tnechanism. 

THE MAP OF THE UNITED STATES 

Exhibits the entire territory of the Union from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific Oceans, and also the greater portion of the British Possessions in 
the North, and the whole of Mexico and Central America, with j^art o. 
the West Indies, in the South. It has also appended to it a MAP OP 
THE NEW-ENGLAND STATES, on a larger scale. The physical 
and political geography of this interesting region is minutely detailed. 
The localities of the cities, and important towns, ports, and harbors 
are denoted by points, and the map generally has been consti'ucted on 
the most approved principles, under the supervision and advice ot 
several competent and experienced teachers. 

T^ie Price of these Maps is $5 each 



MAPS, CHARTS, BOOKS, ETC. 17 

UNIFORM SERIES OF TOWNSHIP MAPS. 

OOLTOWS NEW MAP OF MISSOURI, compiled from the 
United States' Surveys and other authentic sources. Scale, 15 
miles to the inch. Size, 32 by 29 inches. 

Price, mounted, $1 50; incases, $0 75. 



OOLTON'S RAILROAD AND TOWNSHIP MAP OP THE 
STATE OF OHIO, compiled from the United States Surveys, &c. 
Scale, 12 miles to the inch. Size, 32 by 29 inches. 

Price, mounted, $1 50 ; in cases, $0 75. 



COLTON'S TOWNSHIP MAP OF THE STATE OF WIS- 
CONSIN, compiled from the United States' Surveys and other 
authentic sources. Scale, 15 miles to the inch. Size, 32 by 29 
inches. 

Price, mounted, $1 50 ; in cases, $0 75. 



COLTON'S TOWNSHIP MAP OF THE STATE OF IOWA, 

compiled from the United States' Surveys and other authentic 
sources. Scale, 14 miles to the inch. Size, 82 by 29 inches. 

Price, mounted, $1 50 ; in cases, $0 75. 



COLTON'S RAILROAD AND TOWNSHIP MAP OF THE 
STATE OF NEW YORK, with parts of the adjoining States and 
Canadas. Scale, 15 miles to the inch. Size, 32 by 29 inches. 

Price, mounted, $1 50 ; in cases, $0 75. 



COLTON'S NEW RAILROAD AND TOWNSHIP MAP OP 
THE STATES OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT, 
compiled from the most recent and authentic sources. Scale, 9 miles 
to the inch. Size, 32 by 29 inches. 

Price, mounted, $1 50 ; in cases, $0 75. 



COLTON'S NEW RAILROAD AND TOWNSHIP MAP OP 
THE STATES OF MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, 
AND CONNECTICUT, compiled from the United States' Coast 
Survey and other accurate and authentic sources. Scale, 9 miles to 
the inch. Size, 32 by 29 inches. 

Price, mounted, $1 50 ; in cases, $0 75. 



The above series is the most accurate and detailed of any published, 
and in all that relates to railroads and other internal improvements, 
is complete to the date of publication. 



16 PUBLISHED BY J. H. COL TON. 



Map of THl STATc OF KENTUCKY, 

Ca&'efulSy coBispile^I f^ossa elio nsost authentic oi*igi> 
£iia.l Eis»p^, docuEBScaats, n.tiH laaiseelJaiicoiis inror<t 
luatioea. :^y SCdsEseaiiid F. ILiCC, Civil £:ugiueer. 
3 .^Sseets. @ize, 7S hy 48 inches. 

l?rice, mcuBited, $6 OO. 

This is the largest and most detailed map of the prosperous State ot 
Keutucky over published, and the production of one of the most ac- 
complished civil engineers of the Union. It contains the minute topog- 
raphy of the State ; the location of all cities, towns, villages, and post- 
ofiSces; the railroads and other lines of ti-avel, with the distances 
between places; the boundaries of counties; geological diagrams, 
elevations, etc., and statistical tables of agriculture, population, etc. 
It is peculiarly adapted to ihe purposes of all interested' in the actual 
condition of the State, its Internal improvements and general condi- 
tion; and. as an accurate and reliable map has no competitor. 



r^AP OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, 

CoBupilcd fi'om oMcia! imd aisthesatic sources. IBy 
Wis). &. !3o2auer, Civil ISfisgiueep. 1 sheet. Size, 

36 by 19 inches. S?rice, iia cases, ^O 75. 

This map is a reduction of the large mnp of Georgia by the same 
author, and contains all the peculiar features — detail, accuracy, and 
beauty— of the original. Eoads of all descriptions, the proper location 
of towns, the county lines, including those of the thirteen new coun- 
ties erected in 1854, are laid down ;" and the State throughout is repre- 
sented faithfully as it exists at the present time. The traveler will find 
this map to be a true guide to the localities he may wish to visit. 



THE EUROPEAN BATTLE FIELDS. 

UKap of Europe ; together with a large plan of the 
Black Sea and E^s^sissbiaat E*r©vimces. 1 sheet 

Size, 30 by 34 SMchee. 

f rice, mouaitod, $1 25 ; iss cases, $0 50 ; 
in sheets, $0 37. 

This map has been provided with the view of exhibiting the progress 
of the Kusso-Turkish war. It contains a large amount of information^ 
and will be found better adapted to its special object than any other 
that has been published. 



MAPS, ClIAKTS, BOOKS, ETC. 



19 



MAP OF THE WESTERN STATES; 

Via., Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, Mis- 
souri, Iowa, and the Territories, exhibiting the base, 
Kieridian, and township lines of the United States sur- 
veys; the lines of the counties; the general geography 
of the country ; the railroads, canals, and other roads ; 
the location of cities, villages, and post-offices-, etc., etc.: 
compiled from the most recent and accurate sources. 
Engraved on steel. Size, 48 by 36 inches. 

Price, mounted, S3.00; and in portable form, Sl.50. 
This Map of the Western States is the largest, most accurate, and at the 
same time, the most convenient that has hitherto been published It em 
braces the great features of tlie country, and exhibits, at one view the 
Dearing and importance of its relative parts. No one interested in the de 
velopment of the West can vi^ell dispense with so elaborate a portraiture 
ot Its surlace ; and it will be equally interesting and useful for counting- 
iiouse reference as it must be for the trader, traveler, immigrant, or 
resident, for which classes of our citizens it has been especially desi-Tied 
In coiripiling this great work, it has been a chief object to liave afl the 
lines of travel, by railroad, canal, or otherwise, laid down accurately and 
in furtherance ot this object, the assistance of the engineers of the severaf 
works has been obtained, and the lines have been traced from the oriirinal 
surveys by the surveyors of each respectively. In this respect, no formei 
map of the West has any pretence to accuracy, and hence this publication 
claims preference with those wiio desire to acquaint themselves thorouo^hlv 
with the country delineated, and its means ot intercommunication ° 



IN'EW SERIES OF MAPS FOR TRAVELERS. 

This series embraces maps of each of the United States, of the several 
British Provinces, and of Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies 
exhibiting with accuracy the railroads, canals, stage routus, &c also the 
principal cities, and other objects of interest, i^n appended diagrams 



cts. 



Alabama, 

Arkansas, 38 

California, 50 

Canada East, 33 

Canada West, 33 
Central America, 50 

Connecticut, 38 
Delaware and 

Maryland, 38 

Florida, 38 

Georgia, 88 

Illinois, 88 

Indiana, -, 88 

Iowa, 33 
Kentucky and 

Tennessee, 83 



Lake Superior, 38 
Louisiana, 88 

Maine, 38 

Massachusetts and 

Rhode Island, 38 
Mexico, 50 

Michigan, IJorth, 38 
Michigan, South, 88 
Minesota, 83 

Mississippi, 83 

Missouri, 38 

JNTew Brunswick, 

Nova Scotia, &c. 38 
Wew Hampshire, 38 
If ew Jersey, 88 



CTS, 

New Mexico and 

ntah, 50 

Hew York, 88 

North Carolina, 88 
Ohio, 88 

Oregon and Wash- 



ington Ter., 
Pennsylvania, 
Rhode Island, 
South Carolina, 
Texas, 
Vermont, 
Virginia, 
West Indies, 
Wisconsin, 



50 



50 



20 PUBLISHED BY J. H. COLTON. 

NEBRASKA AND KANSAS, 

Exhibiting the netv Territorial boundaries, Indian 
clnims, lines of travel, to'tvus, etc., together trith a. 
map of the iaev»' Territory sonth of the Oita Biver. 

Size, 30 by 34 inches. Prices, mounted, Si 33; 
in cases, $0 30 ; in sheets, $0 37. 



MAP OF THE COUNTRY 12 MILES AROUND 
THE CITY OF NEW YORK, 

With the names of property-holders, «fcc., from an en- 
tirely new and accurate survey. By J. C. Sidney. 
3 sheets. Size, 40 by 40 inches. 

Price, mounted or in cases, $3 00. 



WESTERN POBTRAITURE; 

And Emigrants' Guide : a Description of Wisconsin, 
Illinois, and Iowa, with Remarks on Minnesota and 
other Territories. By Daniel S. Curtiss. In 1 vol 
13mo. pp. 360, (illustrated with a township map.) 

Price, $1 00. 
Actual observation and great experience are the bases of this work ; 
and in language and incident it has much to interest. It treats of the 
«' Great West," its scenery, its wild sports, its institutions and its chai-ac- 
teristics, material and economic. In tiiat portion devoted to statistical 
illustration, the topography of sections and the adaptation of localities 
to particular branches of industry occupy a large space : the geology, 
soil, climate, powers and productions of each are considered, and their 
allied interests, their retpective values and destinies, and their present 
conditions, are accurately described. 

N. B.— A German edition of the *' Western Portraiture" 
has also been issued, and will be found of essential advan- 
tage to Immigrants from the *' fatherland," as it contains 
all the information necessary for their gaining a luiowl- 
edge of the states to which German immigration Is chiefly 
directed. It contains an excellent to^vnship map. 

Price, bound, $0.73; in covers, $0.50. 



MAP OF THE PROVINCES OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NOVA 
SCOTIA, AND NEWFOUNDLAND, 

And parts of the country adjacent thereto. 1 sheet. 
Size, 18 by 15 inches. 

Price, in cases, $0 38. 



PUBLISHED BY J. H. COLTON. 21 

A STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF AMERICA; 

Being a description of the geography^ resources, indns- 
try, inncltutions, and other interests pertaining to the 
several governments and nations thereof. By Richard S. 
Fisher, M.D., author of the "Book of the World," aitd 
ether statistical works. (Not yet complete.) 1 vol. Svo. 
PI). 40«;>. Price, bound, $2.00, 

This elaborate work represents, in the tangible form of fisures and de- 
scriptions, all the great interests which make and distinguish nations. It 
comprises among its subjects the geography, geology, and natural resourcos 
of all the countries of North and South America, and full statistical details 
of the population, industry, and general condition of each. It is a worit 
•which every American needs— sufficiently detailed in all its departments 
for the utilitariaw,and in its style and general character not too elaborate 
for the college or school library. By the student it may be used as a sequel 
to his geographical studies, and it is perhaps surpassed by no other work- 
in its adaptation for the family circle, as it combines with its subjects much 
striking and instructive information resnecting the original inhabitants, 
the antiquities, and curiosities of the continents to which its descriptions 
specially refer. No one, indeed, who is possessed of the maps of America, 
ousht to be without this wqrk, which so lucidly fills up the outlines they 
depict. 

THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD; 

Being a general description of all nations and countiies, 
their geogi*aphy, resources, industryj and institutions ; 
together with a brief histor>- of their rise, progi-ess, and 
present condition. By Richard S. Fishei*, M.D., author 
of the " Book of the World," and other statistical woriis. 
(Not yet complete.) 3 vols. Svo. pp. 400, 416. 

Price, bound, S3.50. 
This IS a work of universal utility and, from its accuracy of detail, must 
become a standard in geographical literature. It contains a full resume 
of all the great interests of nations, and describes, in concise language, the 
distinguishing features of the families of mankind, their origin, languages, 
customs, religions, pursuits, and characters. The vast amount of statis- 
tical information it contains has been derived from the most recent and 
authentic sources— principally from official documents referring to the 
year 1850, and hence, from the uniformity of the statistical series used ia 
Its compilation, comparison is more easy, and the results more lucidly por- 
trayed. As a text-book for colleges and high schools, or as a work of refer- 
3nce in public and private libraries, it is invaluable, and in many respects 
its superiority as a " book for the people" generally is too apparent to be 
mistaken. It is in fact a companion to the Map of the World. It describes 
w lie re the map deniarks, and malces apparent to the mind what the latter 
rally typifies to the eye. 

INDIAINA; 

Its geography, statistics, institutions, county topography, 
&c.: compiled from official and other authentic sources* 
By Richard S. Fisher, M. D., author of the " Book of the 
World," and other statistical works. With a sectional 
Tnap of the State. 1 vol, I'^mo. pp. I^S. Price, S3.00. 



22 PUBLISHED BY J. H. COLTOW. 



MAP OF THE SOUTHERN STATES; 

Viz., Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, 
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tex- 
as, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky : con- 
stracted from authentic materials. 4 sheets. Size, 64 by 
43 inches. 

Price, mounted and colored, ^6.00. 

This map is engraved on steel. It is undoubtedly the best and most 
elaborate map of the southern section of the UnitecT States, and exhibits 
with accuracy all the civil and political divisions; the lines of railroads, 
and other works of internal improvement ; the United States surveys in the 
laad states, and a great mass of other information. Such a work the South 
has long wanted. 



TOWNSHIP MAP OF THE STATE OF MAINE, 

Exhibiting the railroads, and other internal improvcmentSt 
3 sheets. Size, 43 by 37 inches. 
l*rice, colored in to-wns, $3; in counties, $3 50 

in cases, ^1 SO* 

This splendid map is en<graved on steel, colored handsomely, and moimted 
in the best style. It is the largest and most complete map of the state it 
represents that has hitherto been published, and exhibits distinctly all the 
civil divisions, internal improvements, &c., with great accuracy and con- 
ciseness. In its compilation the assistance of officers of the United States 
Coast Survey has contributed much to the value of its representation of 
the seaboard districts. 



GUIDE-BOOK 
THROUGE THE NEW ENGLAND AND MIDDLE STATES. 
Traveler»s and Tourist's Guide-Book through the New 
England and Middle States, and the Canadas. Con- 
tahilng the routes and distances on all the great lines 
of tr.ivel, by railroads, canals, stage-roads, and steam- 
boats, together with desciiptions of the several states, 
and t!ie principal cities, to^vns, and villages in each— 
acconipsaied vrith a large and accurate map. 

Price, $0.75. 

MAP OF THE UNITED STATES, 

The Canadas, &c., showing the railroads, canals, and 
gtage-roads, with the distances from place to place. 
Size, S8 by 3'^ iuches. Price, in cases, S0.f;3. 



MAPS. C H A li T S , BOOKS, ETC. 23 



STATISTICAL MAP OF THE STATE OF I^EW YORKj 

Comprising all the principal statistics of each county — 
agricultural, manufacturing, commercial, &:c. By 11. 
S. Fisher, M. D., author of the " Book of the World," 
&c. 1 sheet. Size, 33 by 26 inches. Price, $0 25. 

Useful to all classes of our citizens, and indispensable fo,r the informa- 
tiou of parties engaged in the construction of railroads and other internal 
improvements, speculators in land, and persons desiguing to settle in any 
part of the State. All the material interests of the country are^plainly 
indicated in figui'es on the face of the map, or in the tables which a©- 
eompany it. 



HORN'S OVERLAIND GUIDE 
FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS TO CALIFORNIA. 

Containing a Table of Distances, and showing all the 
rivers, lakes, springs, mountains, camping places, and 
other prominent objects ; witli remarks on the country, 
roads, timbers, grasses, t&c, &c. Accompanied by a 
Map. Price, ^0 50. 



CORDOVA'S MAP OF TEXAS, 

Compiled from new and original surveys. 4: sheets. 
Size, 36 by 34 inches. 

Price, In cases, $3 OO. 

This is the only reliable map of Texas, and being on a large scale, 
exhibits minutely and with, distinctness the natural features of the State 
and its several political divisions. The following government oflacera 
certify to its accuracy and completeness. 

" We have no hesitation in saying that no map could surpass this in 
accuracy and fidelity." David S. Kaufman, Thos. J. Rusk, 

S. PiLSBURY, Sam. Houston. 

" I certify to the correctness of this map, it being the only one extaa 
that is truly correct." John C. Hays. 



Besides his own publications, J.H. C. has constantly on hand 
a large assortment of Atlases and Foreign Maps. 

Mounting in all its forms carefully executed for the trade, 
public institutions, (Sec. 



24 

A NEW AND COMPLETE 

STATISTICAL AMD GEHSEAL aAlETTEEE 

OF THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

FOUNDED ON AND COMPILED FROM 

Official Federal and State Eetuma, and the Census of 1850 

BY RICHARD SWAINSON FISHER, M.D., 

Author of the "Book of the World;" "Progress of the U. States,' 

a "Statistical Account of America," etc., etc. ; also, hterary 

editor of " Colton's American Atlas," and editor of 

the " American Railway Guide." 



The " Statistical Gazetteer" describes and sums up all the 
prominent and material interests that make and distinguish the sev- 
eral political and civil divisions of the country ; the physical peculi- 
arities, the mineral and other resources, the capacities for agricuUui-e, 
manufactures, commerce, and other industrial pursuits, and the pres- 
ent condition of each section, in accordance with the ascertainments 
of the Seventh Census, taken in 1850, and other federal and state re- 
turns. Great attention has also been paid to works of internal im- 
provement. 

In compiling this work, two extremes, noticeable in Gazetteers 
hitherto published, have been carefully avoided : the one of which 
has been to give a mere catalogue of names ; and the other, to select 
for description only such places as, by their historical greatness, 
their extensive manufactures, or other special interests, have gained 
a notorious position. This Gazetteer notices each state, county, city, 
village, and natural object, at such proportional length as its import- 
ance demands, and in that terse and judiciously compressed style so 
desirable in books of this description, excluding all irrelevant detail, 
and dwelling only on the most prominent and interesting features. 
It thus commends itself to all classes, occupying, as it docs, a posi- 
tion between the abstruse and popular, retaining the precision of the 
one, without its detail, and the interest of the other, without its 
vagaries. It is an eminently ]^actical work, and to the commercial 
man, the traveler, and statist, must be an indispensable companion. 

ITie work is published in one volume, royal octavo, containing 
about 960 pages, and is strongly bound in leather. 

Price Three Dollars and a half* 



25 

AMEEIGAH STATISTICAL AimUAL 
POR THE TEAIl 1854-5. 

COMPILED FKOM TUB MOST AITTnENTIO SOTIECES 

BY RICHAED S. FISHER, M. D., AND CHARLES COLRT, A. M.- 



The " American Statistical Annual " is a work in v.-hich are embodied 
Ihe detailed statistics of all American States, and a summary of those of 
Europe, Asia, Africa and Australasia. The Statistics represent the condi- 
tion of all the interests of nations and countries according to the latest 
official returns, chiefly those made since 1850. The work is divided into 
four parts. 

Part First — contains the Census Statistics of the United States and of 
the States severally, and the reports of the departments of the govern^ 
raents of each, with abstracts of state constitutions and of executive mes- 
sages ; and among a multiplicity of other matters of interest will be 
found a correct list of colonial and constitutional governors, the statistics 
of asylums for the deaf and dumb, blind, and insane ; school statistics ; 
the financial condition of states : statistics of navigation and commerce, 
domestic and foreign ; accurate lists of railways, canals, telegraphs, etc. ; 
statistics of colleges, universities, theological schools, medical schools, 
law schools, and scientific schools ; and statistical information relative to 
every interest of the states described. This division indeed contains a 
faithful review of the present condition of the Union and its component 
States. 

Part Second — is devoted to the States of Central and South America, and 
contains the latest statistics relative to their condition. In its compila- 
tion the assistance of the ministers of tlie several states resident at Wash- 
ingt(m lias been sought, and thus entire accuracy has been attained. No 
part of America has hitherto been so little known in this country as these 
states, and iieuce tlie information collected from such sources will be pe- 
culiarly valuable. 

Part Third — describes Colonial America, and contains a vast fund of 
authentic information relative to the Russian, Danish, British, Dutch, 
French, Spanish and Swedish possessions, never before published. The 
late census of tlie British Colonies are chief features in this part cf the 
v/ork, and for these and many other valuable documents the authors are 
greatly indebted to the governors of the several dependencies. The 
Dutch and Danish censuses are also given. 

Part Fourth — contains extensive statistics of trans-Atlantic States in 
tabular, form chiefly respecting the extent, population, finances, armed 
force, military and naval, merchant Tnarine, railways, etc., of each. Tho 
conciseness of these statistics, which are all of the latest d&tes, makes 
them of great value for ready reference. 

So extensive a work on statistics has never before been attempted ; nor 
has such a variety of interests ever been brought together. The merchant, 
the scholar, the minister of the gospel, the physician, and indeed every 
class of society will find in it something of importance relative to his indi- 
vidual profession. The economist will appreciate it as a book of facts, and 
refer to it in his arguments against the sophist; and to no class cf per- 
sons can it be of more value than to editors of newspapers, whose atten- 
tion is frequently too closely confined to matters which preclude the pos- 
sibility of research for a wanted fact, but which the index of this volume 
will readily discover. 

The work is handsomely printed, in fine type, and contains as mncli 
mattei as three ordinary volumes of the same size. 

Price, @i.50 bound half clotli, leather back. 



26 

GEOGRAPHY AND JIISTOKY COilBlNED 
In 1 vol., 4to, with 80 Majjs and 200 Engravings, 

EntiUed 

COMPEEHENSIYE GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORlf, 

Ancient aixtJ i[^otJ£rn. 

BY S. G. GOODRICH, 

AUTHOE OF parley's TALES AND PICTORIAL mSTOKIES. 



This work contains 272 quarto pages, equal to 1,000 (?ommon 12tno pagea. 
It is the most complete and comprehensive work for the daily use ofFanii 
lies, Merchants, Editors of papers. Lawyers, Postmasters, Emigrants, &c. 
tliat has ever appeared. It contains the Geography and History of every 
country, including the new census of the United States ; it gives tlie sit 
uation and population of over 5,000 cities, towns, and villages ; the mate- 
rials are all arranged in the most convenient order, and a copious index 
serves as a guide to the history and geography of the most remarkable 
places in the world. This work has received tlie highest commendation 
at the hands of scientific men iu America and Europe. (Price, hall 
bound $2 00, cloth gilt $3 00, 

From the Washington Republic, May 5, 1853. 

"This work belongs to the utilitarian class, and will doubtless take a 
permanent place in the higher schools, and in reading families generally. 
It is much more extensive than ordinary school treatises, as it includes 
.some 270 quarto pages crowded with matter, and containing as much as 
two common 8vo. volumes. It is also illustrated with numerous engrav- 
ings on wood, and, what is more important, with 80 maps, plans ol 
cities, &c. 

" It may be a question whether it is best to study history with geogra- 
phy, at the outset; but in a more advanced stage of study, tliere can be 
no doubt that it is desirable at least to review geography in immediate 
connection with history. This work is prepared with this view, and its 
introduction into the higher seminaries will prove a great advantage to 
education. 

" But, after all, the work strikes us as likely to be most useful in fami- 
lies, and to general readers, inasmuch as it furnishes a very full outline 
of geography and history, with descriptions of country, so clear and dis- 
tinct as to divest both of these subjects of the mists which usually attend 
them in the mind. They are rarely studied from the beginning in a 
proper manner, and hence there are certain labyrinths into which almost 
every one habitually strays in approaching them. In the present work, 
by a systematic arrangement, and especially by the use of numerous 
maps, ancient and modern, placed in immediate contiguity with the text 
the various topics are presented in a manner so lucid as not only to pre 
vent new errors and correct old ones, but at the same time to render sub- 
jects interesting which might otherwise be unattractive. 

" Beside all this, for general reference the work in question is exceed- 
ingly convenient, and will often save the trouble of consulting various 
sources of information. Take, as an example, the subject of Germany 
with its divisions and subdivisions. In order to find the history and ge- 
ography of these countries, as given in the book before us, it would be 
necessary to consult at least half a dozen volumes 

" In regard to countries whose history go back to antiquity, the advan- 
tage is even greater. The view given of the Roman empire in connection 
with the Greek empire, fumislies an example of the remarkably clear 
manner m which the anthor has contrived to treat geographical and his- 
torical topics. 

" We consider the work, as a whole, to be an excellent one, marking a 
grreat advance in the art of preparing books for popular use, and deserv- 
ing therefore, iiniversal encouragement " 



27 
KEW PHYSICiVL MD POLITICAL ATUSES. 



AMERICAM ATLAS, 

Illastrating the Physical and Political Geography of the 
United States of America, the British Provinces, Mexico, 
Central America, the West Indies, and 8011th America: 
constructed from official surveys and other authentic 
materials. 

The " American Atlas" contains separate maps of every state and coim 
try of North and South America, and the West Indies, engraved in ths 
most elaborate style, and colored so as to distinguish readily the civil and 
political divisions of each. The work embraces about 55 maps in imperial 
folio, and each map is accompanied with a letter-press descripticm of the 
country it may represent; exhibiting, in a condensed form, all its great 
interests, industries, and institutions. 

Price, $15»00; or -vvithout letter-press, $12.50. 

ATLAS OF THE WORLD, 

ilJastrating Physical andPolitical Geography: constructed 
from official surveys and other authentic materials. 

The " Atlas of the World" contains all the maps and letter-press 
comnrised in the American Atlas, with the addition of between 50 and 61) 
maps and descriptions of the several countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, 
and Oceanica, and, in every respect, is got up in the same SDlendid style, 
and with the same regard to authenticity and correctness. 

Price, Sa4.00; or without letter-press, $30.00. 

The maps contained in the above elaborate works have been dra\vn under 
the superintendence of an accurate and accomplished geographer, and con- 
tain, besides the usual geographical outlines, true representations of all 
works of internal improvement, the lines of public surveys, and a great 
mass of other valuable information. 

The descriptive portions of the work are written by Du. R. S. Fishee, 
author of the " Book of the World," and other statistical works. These 
descriptions embrace all the geographical, geological, and statistical infor- 
mation incident to the countries to which they refer; and also an outline 
of their institutions, political, religious, and intellectual. In the compila- 
tion of this, as in all other departments of the works, the most recent and 
a.utlientic materials have been used, and the whole forms a convenient and 
reliable source of information touching the subjects treated of. 

Works such as the above have long been demanded by the enlightened 
portion of the American public. For many years extraordinary advancea 
have been made in geograpliical science ; discoveries of the highest im- 
portance iiave been effected; regions before comparatively unknown have 
been explored, and their physical characteristics ascertained with greater 
or less minuteness; and on every side man has been actively engaged in 
acquiring information, v/hereby to extend the sphere of civilization and 
commerce. None of the important facts developed by these movements 
are to be found in the old atlases, and hence the necessity for entirely 
new works, embracing all the results that have been obtained from the 
sources indicated. The atlases above named supply this necessity, and in 
their maps and descriptions tlie world, as known at the present time, is rep- 
resentee! with faithfulness and accuracy; and the vast amount of itiforma- 
tion collected by explorers, travelers, and others, existing until now in 
forms accessible" only to the few, are incorporated into these pages. Every 
effort has been used by tiie publisher to furnish to the world works that 
Bhall be creditable alike to the genius, learning, and mechanical skill of 
America, and superior in' every respect to any like productions of the 
pwss, either of this country or Europe. Their utility is not limited to any 
jiffiss, but IS co-exlensive with the sphere of civilized 'lumanity. 

18 



28 
LIST OF MAPS 

CONTAINED IN 

COLTON'S ATLAS OF THE WORLD. 



Vignette Title. 

Heights of Mountains. 

Lengths of Rivers. 

j Comparative size of Lakes. 

\ " " Islands. 

Physical Maps of the World. (2 Maps.) 



8, 9. World on Mercator's Projection. 
{Doiihle) 

10. World, Eastern Hemisphere. 

11. " Western " 

12. Northern Eegions. 

13. Southern Regions. 

14. North America. 

15. British Possessions in N. America. 

16. New Briinswick, Nova Scotia, and 

Newfoundland. 

17. Lower Canada and New Brunswick. 

18. Upper Canada. 

19. 20. United States. {Double.) 

21. Maine. 

22. New Hampshire. 

23. "Vermont. 

24. Massachusetts and Khode Island. 

25. City of Boston. 
2G. Connecticut. 

27. New York. 

28, 29. N. York & adjacent cities. {Double.) 

30. New Jersey. 

31. Pennsylvania. 

32. City of Philadelphia. 

33. Delaware and Maryland. 

34. City of Baltimore. 

So. Cities of Washington and George- 
town. 

36. Virginia. 

37. North Carolina. 
South Carolina. 

City of Charleston. 
City of Savannah. 

40. Georgia. 

41. Florida. 

42. Alabama. 

43. Mississippi. 

44. Louisiana. 

45. City of New Orleans, 

46. Texas. 

47. Arkansas. 

48. Kentucky and Tennessee. 

49. Ohio. 

.ft j City of Louisville. 
""• 1 City of Cincinnati. 
61. Indiana. 

52. Michigan. 

53. N. Michigan and Lake Superior. 
64. lUjuois. 



'■{ 



I 108. 

Whole miniber of Maps. 180, o?i 109 



J City of Chicago. 

\ City of St. Louis. 

Missoiu-i. 

Iowa. 

Wisconsin. 

Minuesota. 

Nebraska Territory, eto. 

Utah and New Mexico. 

California. 

Oregon and Washington. 

Mexico. 

Central America. 

West Indies. 

South America. 

New Granada, Venezuela, aacl 
Ecuador. 

Peru and Bolivia. 

Brazil and Guayana. 

Cliili and Argentine Republic, Uru- 
guay and Paraguay. 

Patagonia. 

Europe. 

75. England. {Double.) 

Vicinity of London. 

Scotland. 

Ireland. 

France. 

Vicinity of Paris. 

Spain and Portugal. 

Holland and Belgium. 

Denmaik. • 

Germany, No. 1. 

Germany, No. 2. 

Germany, No. 3. 

Italy (NorthX 

Italy (SoutlTJ. 

Switzerland. 

Norway and Sweden. 

Russia. 

Prussia. 

Austria. 

Turkey in Europe. 

Greece and the Ionian Islands. 

Asia. 

Turkey in Asia. 

Palestine. 

Afl'ghanistan, Belocliistaa, Tnrtary, 
Arabia, etc. 

China. 

Japan. 

India. 

East Indies, Binnali, Siam, etc 

Australia. 

Islands of the Pacific Ocean. 

Africa, N. E. sheet. 

Africa, N. W. slieet. 

Africa, Southern. 109. Cuba. 



29 
rO TEACHERS AND SCHOOL COMMITTEES, 

COLTON AND FITCH'S 

AMERICAlf SCHOOL GEOGRAPHY. 

U'ow in Press. 

J. H. Colton & Co. announce to th-e public that they have in press a 
new system of Geography for Common Schools and Academies, which 
they design to issue during the present year. 

The wide spread demand for a new school geography, and the convic- 
tion in their minds that a great improvement on those in general use is 
needed and attainable, have induced the publishers to undertake the en- 
terprise, and they are resolved that no pains or expense shall be spared 
n making a first-rate work. 

Previously to undertaking the task of preparing a new school geogra- 
phy, the author (Mr. George W. Fitch) communicated with a great 
number of experienced teachers respecting the defects of our present 
books, and the manner in which the subject should be treated in order to 
meet their approbation. Profiting by the suggestions thus obtained, as 
well as by his own experience in teaching, he has sought to make the 
T\-ork eminently practical, and to adapt it especially for use in the school- 
room. 

It has been a leading idea with the author, to give particular promi- 
nence to the facts of Pliysical Geography, and to arrange them in such a 
v/aj^hat the learner may see the relations they bear to each other, and to 
the industrial affairs of mankind. 

Great advancement has been made in this department of geograpnical 
science during the past few years, and the author is not aware that the 
facts relating thereto, with appropriate illustrations, have ever been 
systematically embodied in an American school-book, adapted to the 
comprehension of the great mass of scholars in our Common Schools and 
Academies. The author trusts that his mode of treating this branch of 
the subject will meet the approbation of all intelligent teachers. 

The work is to be entirely new, with new maps and pictorial illustra- 
tions throughout. The maps will be nearly two inches longer and wide*- 
than those of any existing school-atlas, thus affording space for an en- 
larged scale, so essential for the proper delineation of small and populous 
states. Tliey will represent the most recent surveys and explorations, 
and will exhibit the physical and political divisions of the globe according 
to the most recent information. 

E^" The Publishers express the hope that Teachers and 
School Committees who contemplate adopting a. new school 
geography, will await the appearance of this work before 
Ujal?h:i^ thfiir selection. 



30 
OUTLMEB OF FHfSIOAL GEOGRAPHY. 

BY GEORGE W. FITCH, ESQ. 
Illustrated by Six Maps and Numerous Engravings. 



The Publishers take pleasure in announcing that they have now ready 
the above Treatise, designed particularly for study in common schools 
and academies, but adapted a'so for home instruction and general read- 
ing. The particular attention of teachers, school committees, and others 
is called to this Avork. It is believed to be the first attempt ever made 
in this country to embody, in a separate treatise, the more prominent 
facts of Physical Geography in a manner iuteiligil)le to the great body 
of pupils attending our schools. The scope of the book, and its general 
plan, may be seen from the following list of subjects, which are treated 
of with as much simplicity as possible: 

THELA^fD— Its Extent and Distribution; Continents; Islands; Vol- 
canic Islands; Coral Islands; Mountains; Mountain Systems of the 
Eastern and Western Continents; Upland Plains or Table-Lands; 
Lowland Plants; Glaciers; Snow Mountains and Avalanches; Vol- 
canoes; Volcanic Eegions ; Vesuvius, Etna; Earthquakes. 

TuE Water — Chemical Composition of Water; Mineral Springs j 
Cataracts; Deltas; Oceanic and Continental Elvers; Inundations of 
Elvers; Eiver Systems of the yy'"estern Continent — of the Eastern Con- 
tinent; Lakes ; distribution of fresh-v/ater Lakes— of salt-water Lakes; 
physical dififerences of Lakes; the Ocean; its temperature, color,^and 
depth; deep-sea soundings ; Vfaves; Tides; Currents; Gulf Stream. 

The Atmosphere — Composition of the Air — its properties; Winds; 
Variable Winds ; Permanent Winds ; Trade-Winds ; Periodical Winds; 
Monsoons; Hurricanes; Moisture; Clouds; Eain ; Snow and Hail; 
Climate ; causes which determine Climate, Isotliermal Lines. 

Organic Existence— Plants— divisions of the Vegetable Kingdom — 
distribution of Plants— Food Plants ; Animals— their Classification ; dLs- 
Iribution of Animals, Zoological Eegions ; Man— Eaces of Men. 
. The Appendix contains several articles relating to the Chief Produc- 
tions of Countries ; the Exports of Countries; Trade Eoutes; Metallic 
Productions, etc. Also list of the Mountains, Elvers, etc. 

The Maps which illustrate the book have been constructed with the 
greatest care, and, though small in scale, they Aviil, it is conceived, be 
found sufficient to give the learner an accurate idea of the principal 
features and leading physical phenomena of the globe. The lessons are 
broken into short sections or paragraphs, so that the work can be used 
as a Eeading Book, and questions are appended at the bottom of the 
pages for the purpose of rendering it convenient as a manual of in- 
struction. 

1 Vol.; l^iioilecimo, j^jt. SS5. Price $1 OO. 



31 
COLTON AND FITCH'S 

INTERMEDIATE aSOaEAFHY, 



This book, whicli is now being prepared, will be a small 
quarto, and is designed for that very large class of scholars 
in onr schools who wish to learn the more important facts 
of Geography, but who have not time to consult thoroughly 
a large treatise. The aim of the author has been to pre- 
sent in this work such facts, and such only, as every scholar 
should understand before he completes his term of instruc- 
tion. Accordingly, all tedious detail and extended descrip- 
tion are omitted ; and the learner's attention is confined 
principally to the maps, from which only correct and defin- 
ite impressions of locality can be obtained. 

The Publishers would call the particular attention of 
Teachers and others to the Maps which illustrate this book. 
Every Teacher must have noticed that the Maps generally 
put* into the Geographies for junior classes (commonly de- 
signated Primary Geographies), are extremely meagre and 
imperfect ; many countries are not represented at all, and 
those which are exhibited, are delineated on so small a 
scale, and are so carelessly drawn, that the impressions they 
convey are of scarcely of any value. 

The greatest possible pains are being taken with the draw- 
ing and engraving of these Maps. They will be very full 
of reliable information ; the larger cities and towns will be 
in heavier lettering than the rest, so as to arrest the atten- 
tion of the learner ; and they will possess the additional 
merit, not found in any other similar book published in this 
country, of showing contiguous states and countries on the 
same scale. This is an important desideratum, and has 
been hitherto entirely disregarded in the preparation of 
School Geographies, the consequence being that no correct 
ideas of relative size and dimension are obtained, Other 
improvements are being introduced, and the Publishers 
feel confident that the Map illustrations will far excel thos^ 
of any similar book. 



32 
PROaRESB OF THE UMITED STATES, 

GEOGRAPHICAL, STATISTICAL, AND HISTORICAL, 

BY KICHARD S. FISHER, M.D., 

Author of the " Book of the World," tne " Statistical Gazetteer of the 
United States of America," Literary Editor of Colton's 
"Atlas of the World," and Editor of the "Amer- 
ican Eailway Guide," etc., etc. 



A few years posterior to the foundation of the constitutional govern- 
ment of the United States, a census of the population thereof was taken 
under the authority of Congress in accordance with a provision of the 
fundamental law; and subsequently at the end of each period of tea 
years, similar and successively more and more minute censuses have 
been instituted. These enumerations have also embraced inquiries 
into the social and industrial status of the country, and its resources 
and wealth for the time being, with such collaterate inquiries as were 
deemed important to the determination of the economic and political 
relations of the States constituting the Union. 

The first national census wastaken in 1790, and the seventh and 
latest census in the year 1850. Intermediate to these decennial enu- 
merations, the States individually have likewise made numerous sta- 
tistical inquiries, which are still being continued at periods varying from 
two to ten years. 

These show the progress of the United States from the first years of 
their aggregate existence, and, in coimection with the annual returns 
published by the Slate and General guvernments, are the ground-work 
of the statistical portion of the present work. 

The " Progress of the United States," however, is not confined alone 
to a statistical analysis of the development of the country. In its pages 
will be f>und a complete description of its geography, both in relation 
to the States severally, and also to the Union. The general history of 
the rise of the colonies, their struggles in the cause of liberty, iheir 
transformation into independent governments, and their onward pro- 
greas, are also summed np, and their present relative condition and po- 
sition in the Union fully illustrated. The subjects more particularly 
noticed are the mining, agriculture, commerce, and general industry of 
the States, their institutions of learning and education, their religious 
and moral institutions, and, in fact, all the great interests which make 
and distinguish their social, industrial, and'political existence. Such 
are the various subjects treated upon ; and certainly none can be more 
interesting— none more useful to the inquiring citizen. Without enter- 
ing into minute and controverted details, which would extend his work 
to Jiany volumes, the author has endeavored to exhibit clearly and 
trttthfully the history of events, their results, and the high destiny that 
awaits the future of a country already distinguished among nations for 
it? enlightened civilization, and the successful achievement of a posi- 
tioa second to that of no other nation of ancient or modern times. 

In One Vol., Boyal 8t?o, pp. 432, with Jllustrationa. Price $2 50. 



33 

C O L T O N ' S 

GEOGRAPHIC COMEINATIOIT MAPS, 

DESIGNED TO INSTKUOT AND AJITTSE 

THE FAMILY CIRCLE AND PRIMARY SCHOOL.- 



" JJUle ciion diilceP 



The series of Maps under tlie above title, and whicli are 
now in course of publication, will viltimately embrace 
Maps of all countries, as 

The ITnited States S3 50 j The World S2 50 

The Sc'parats States .... 2001 Foreign Oonntries 300 

The design of the Publishers is to furnish an agreeable 
and attractive method of imparting to the young, at home 
and at school, a knowledge of Geography, and of blending 
amusement and instruction. 

Tiie several Maps composing this series are dissected and 
cut up into variform pieces ; but in such a manner that 
each piece, whatever may be its shape, has a correspond- 
ence with the other parts of the Map to which it belongs. 
Thus from a score or more separate and differently shaped 
pieces a complete Map may be constructed. 

The act of combining these parts exercises and amuses 
the mental faculties ; and the study of Geography is thus 
made attractive, and more knowledge of the subject is ac- 
quired in one hour spent in this intellectual amusement 
than a month of hard book- study could insure. 

Every family and district school should have at least one 
copy of the series ; and simply for the reason that Geogra- 
phy can not be so effectually taught by any other means ; 
and many an hour which a child would otherwise wear 
away in idleness may be saved to its advantage by placing 
these amusing instructors within its reach. 

Each ]Map is packed in a handsome book-form case, and 
will form a valuable addition to the family or school library. 







34 
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6 


97 


15.84 


3 


11 


1.79 


6 


40 


6.53 


3 


69 


11.27 





93 


16.00 


6 


12 


1.96 





41 


6.69 


6 


70 


11.43 


3 


99 


16.17 





13 


2.12 


3 


42 


G.^Q 





71 


11.59 


(5 


100 


16.33 


3 


14 


2 28 


6 


43 


7.02 


3 


72 


11.76 





110 


17.96 


7 


15 


2.45 





44 


7.18 


6 


78 


11.92 


3 


120 


19.60 





16 


2.61 


3 


45 


7.35 





74 


12.08 


6 


130 


21.23 


8 


IT 


2.77 


6 


46 


7.51 


3 


75 


12.25 





140 


22.S6 


7 


18 


2.94 





47 


7.67 


6 


76 


12.41 


3 


150 


24.50 





19 


3.10 


3 


48 


7.81 





77 


12.57 


6 


160 


26.13 


^ 


20 


3.26 


6 


49 


8.00 


8 


78 


12.74 





170 


27.76 


7 


21 


3.43 





50 


8.16 


6 


79 


12.90 


3 


180 


29.40 





22 


8.59 


3 


1 ^^ 


8.33 





SO 


IS. 06 


g 


190 


31.03 


3 


28 


8.75 


6 


1 53 


8.49 


3 


81 


13.28 





200 


82.66 


7 


24 


3 92 





i 53 


S.65 


6 


82 


18.39 


3 


300 


49.00 





25 


J. '8 


3 


1 54 


8 82 


U 


S3 


13 55 


6 


400 


65.38 


3 


26 


4.'2 I 


6 


! 55 


8.93 


3 


84 


13.72 





500 


81-.66 


7 


27 


4.41 





66 


9.14 


6 


85 


13.88 


8 


600 


98.00 





2S 


4.57 


;.{ 


57 


9.31 





R6 


14 04 


6 


700 


114.38 


3 


29 


4.73 


^1^ 


58 


9.4T 


3 


87 


1421 





800 


130.66 


_ 7_ 


_g' 1 


4.90 


(j 


- 5 


24.50 





■^ 9 


44.10 





»=-12 


58.80 





^ 2 


9.8) 





'- 6 


29.40 





^10 


49.00 





■^24 


117.60 





g 3 


14.70 





.3 7 


84.30 





311 


53.90 





^36 


176.40 





" 4 


19.60 





" 8 


39.20 



















Ys. Ms. Ds. 

Mixed 2 . 8 . 20 Time. 







35 

Tn!8 comprehensive work, now in the course of preparation, will be 
published in 1855. In comparing its capacity with other wo'fks of a 
like character, we choose to select one which is the most extensively 
known ; one whi'h, from the simplicity of its arrangement, and which, 
for the fullness of extent, can not, but by some originality of thought 
and a nevcr-tiring industry, be surpassed. Eowlett shows the interest 
on each principal only from one day to sixty-four. Preston's new 
work, as seen in the example herewith exhibited, shows the interest on 
each principal from one day tu one hundred days inclusive ; and hence, 
as contained in our specinien page opposite, we find the interest; at 6 
per cent, on $9S0 for, say. 95 days to be $15.51-6. Then, by inserting 
the mills, Preston exhibits a tenfold capacity, Avhich Eowlett doers 
not. Thus the interest from Preston on $980 for 25 days is shown to 
be $4.08-3 ; and on the same sum for 250 days, the interest is shown in 
this new work to be $40.83. Then, again, in this new work, the inter- 
est on $9800 for 25 days is shown, in the same identical spot, to bo 
$40.83. Eowlett can not be used in this variety of form. To obtain 
the interest from Eowlett ou any given sum, large or small, for any 
given number of days above G4, we must add two sums together, while 
this new work contemplates a relief from this embarrassment. In the 
next place, this new Avork shows interest at three different rates, five, 
SIX. and seven per cent. But what gives to it an incomparable supe^ 
riority is, its alternate arrangement, whereby we are enabled to ob- 
tain the interest on any sum, 'arge or small, for any given term of time, 
simple or mixed, without being required in any one case to refer to more 
than one single column. Suppose, for example, that we want the in- 
terest at 6 per cent, on $777.77 for 2 years, 8 months, and 20 days, as 
stated at the extreme bottom of the page. Now, we regard the dai/s 
as representing dollars. The 700 days represent 700 dollars or 7000 
dollars ; the 77 days represent 77 dollars, and also the 77 cents. The in- 
terest, then, for 2 years, 8 months, and 20 davs on $7000 is $1143.33; on 
$700 it is, in the same spot, $114.33-3 ; on $77 it is $12.57-6 : and on 77 
cents it is, in the same spot, 1''. cents and 5 mills, etc. ; total, $1270.36-4. 
To obtain the interest from Eowlett on said sum for said term of time, 
requires us to refer to two different pages wicZeZ?/ apart, and then to se^ 
lect three amounts from each one of those pages ; to add them together, 
and finally to hunt up an illy aevised cent table at the close of the book, 
where, if we have time, patience, and ingenuity enough, we shall find 
the interest on the 77 cents. And this niay also be said of most of all 
the interest tables that have been heretofore published. 

The entire work will, when completed, probably contain about 275 
pages, embracing more than One Thousand Millions of principals, no 
two of which shall be alike, nor will there, in all this vast comprehen- 
sion, be any occasion, in any one case, to refer to more than one single 
column, like unto the one herewith presented. The work will contain 
a very convenient Time Table, embracing 222,000 combinations of 
dates. It will also contain one of the best tables for expediting the tedi- 
ous process of Averaging Amounts that have ever been devised. And, 
finally, a series of Exchange Tables will complete the volume. The 
paper, printing, and binding will be of the best quality. The specimen 
of table-work on opposite page represents but one-sixth of the quarto 
page, that is, one column. 

Price, $d. 






f 
^ X 



36 

INDEX TO CATALOGUE. 



Alabama Page 19 

Africa (2 sizes) 4 

America, Central 6, 10 

America, North 2 

America, North and South . . . ; 2 

American Atlas 27 

American School Geoojraphy.. 29 

America, South (2 sizes) 8 

American Staiislical Annual .; 25 
American States (Stat. Ace. of) 21 

Aricansas 6, 19 

Asia (2 sizes) .' 8, 4 

Atlas, Amerif-an ■.-. 27 

Atlas of the World 27 

Book of the W'.rlJ 14 

I5ritisli Provinces 4, 6 

Brooklyn 7, 8 

Calif<.ruia 18, 19 

Canada, East 19 

Canada, West 19 

Central America 6, 10, 19 

Chronology (Haskell's) . . ^ 14 

Coiinecticut 7, IS, 17, 19 

Delaware 19 

i'^gypt) ^tc 11 

Europe (2 sizes) 3 

Euronean Battle Fields 18 

Florida ." 19 

Geography,Tnterinediate(book) 31 
Geographic Combination Maps 33 
Geography. Physical (book). .. 30 
Geographv&llisiory (Goodrich) 26 

Georgia.. '. 18, 19 

Human Life 11 

Illinois 8,19 

Indiana (3 sizes) 8, 9 

Indiana (book) 1 21 

Indiana 19 

Iowa 1T,19 

Kentucky 9, 13, 19 

Lake Superior 19 

Long Island (2 sizes) T 

Loufsiana 19 

Maine ; 19,22 

Maryland 19 

Massachusetts t, 13, 17, 19 

Mexico 4, 6,19 

Michigan * 9 

Michigan, North 19 

Michigan, South 19 

Minnesota 14, 19 

Mississippi , 19 

Mis-souri 17,19 

Mountains and Rlyers. 10 



National Fl.-igs Page 10 

Nebraska and Kansas 13 

New Erunsw ick 19, 20 

New England 7, 13 

New England Gnidc-Book 22 

New Ensiand and New York. 7 

Newfoundland 19, 23 

New HarHpshire 7, 13, 17, 19 

New -Jersey 19 

New Mexico and Utah 19 

New Testament Map 12 

New York (State). ... 6, 13, 17, 19 

New York (statistical) 23 

New York (city) 7, 8, 10, 15 

New York (33 miles around). . 7 
New York (12 miles around).. 20 

North America . . 2 

North Carolina. 19 

Nova Scotia. 19, 20 

Ohio 17,19 

Oregon and Washington 19 

Ovel-land Guide (Horn) 23 

Palestine (2 sizes) 11 

Pennsylvania 19 

Presidenis. Portraits of 10 

Proeress of the United States. 81 

Pvhode Island 7, 13, 17, 19 

Souih America (2 sizes) 3 

South Carolina... 15,19 

Southern Slates 22 

Stream of Time (Strauss) 10 

Tennessee 9, 19 

Texas 19,23 

United States, etc. (2 sizes). . . 4, 6 
United States and Canada .... 5 

United States (case) 22 

United Stales (outline) 16 

United States (Gazetteer) 24 

United States' Guide^Book. ... 12 
United States (Progress of) ... 31 
United States' Poute-Book. ... 12 

Utah 19 

Vermont 7, 13, 17, 19 

Virginia 19 

West Indies 3, 4, 19 

Western Portraiture 20 

Western States 9, 19 

Western Tourist » 14 

Wisconsin 17, 19 

World (3 sizes) 1, 2 

World (missionary) 2 

World (outline) 16 

World, Book of the 14 

World, Chronology of 14 



03^ 



